Multi-hinge tonneau cover

ABSTRACT

A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges between each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality of panels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the one or more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that are movably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansion links including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or more pockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansion projections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links; and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the one or more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of the expansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein the one or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angle of about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.

FIELD

The present teachings relate to a tonneau system including one or moreexpansion links that assist one panel in rotating relative to anotherpanel; one or more covers that extend over all or a portion of a coverand a hinge and/or assists in holding a hinge together, preventing fluidfrom penetrating through or around hinge joints, or both; one or moreexpansion caps that extend a hinge to a location proximate to or over arail cap and/or a support rail; a standing hinge that lifts one or morepanels as one panel is rotated relative to a second panel; one or moreconnectors that connect a tonneau to a vehicle and/or preventlongitudinal movement of a tonneau cover relative to a vehicle; one ormore rotary locks that prevent a hinge from being vertically movedrelative to a vehicle and/or vehicle bed when the tonneau cover is inthe closed position; or a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND

Tonneau covers are typically added to beds of vehicles to close the bedof the vehicle. Some tonneau covers may be locked to prevent theft. Sometonneau covers may prevent the ingress of fluids and debris into the bedof the vehicle so that the contents of the bed may be maintained in aclean and dry state. Tonneau covers may be used with virtually anyvehicle with a bed such as a truck, El Camino, UTV, SUV, any vehiclewith a bed, or a combination thereof. Some tonneau covers may be foundin U.S. Pat. Nos. D830,282; D830,283; 5,427,428; 9,333,842; 9,555,735;and 9,840,135 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0118004all of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

It would be attractive to have one or more expansion links that connecttwo or more panels together and each expansion link provides a specificamount of rotation of a first panel relative to a second panel. What isneeded is a single cover that extends over all or a portion of a paneland a hinge so that the single cover prevents fluid from penetratingthough the hinge; the cover holds the hinge together; the coverdisconnects from the hinge, the panel, or both to facilitate movement ofthe hinge without restriction by the cover; or a combination thereof. Itwould be attractive to have a tonneau cover with hinges that include oneor more expansion caps that extend a hinge to a location proximate to orover a rail cap, a support rail, or both. What is needed is a tonneaucover that includes one or more standing hinges that lift one or morepanels from a rail cap, a header panel, or both so that the one or morepanels are spaced a distance away from the rail cap, the header panel,or both when one of the tonneau covers is rotated relative to a secondtonneau cover. It would be attractive to have one or more connectorsthat connects the tonneau cover to a vehicle and the one or moreconnectors are movably locked within a track so that the one or moretransverse connectors are movable in a transverse direction while theone or more connectors prevent longitudinally movement of the tonneaucover. What is needed is a tonneau cover including one or more hingesthat include one or more rotary locks that prevent the hinges from beinglifted vertically when the tonneau cover is a closed position.

SUMMARY

The disclosure meets one or more of the needs by providing: a tonneaucover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hingesbetween each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality ofpanels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the oneor more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that aremovably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansionlinks including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or morepockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansionprojections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links;and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the oneor more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of theexpansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein theone or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angleof about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau cover comprising: (a) aplurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges located between andconnecting each panel of the plurality of panels; and (c) one or morecovers extending over all or a portion of one or more of the pluralityof panels and some or all the one or more hinges connecting theplurality of panels so that when the one or more of the plurality ofpanels rotate about the one or more hinges the one or more covers form aportion of the some or all of the one or more hinges and maintain theintegrity of the some or all of the one or more hinges that include theone or more covers.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau cover comprising: (a) aplurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges located between andconnecting each panel of the plurality of panels, (c) one or moreexpansion caps extending from some or all of the one or more hinges froma location inward of one or more vertical walls or rail caps of a bed ofa vehicle to a location over or proximate to the one or more verticalwalls or rail caps of the bed of the vehicle; wherein a top of the oneor more expansion caps, a top of the plurality of panels, and a top ofthe one or more hinges are all planar and maintain the tonneau coversubstantially flush when the tonneau cover is in a closed position.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau cover comprising: (a) aplurality of panels including at least a first panel and a second panel;and (b) one or more hinges located between and connecting each panel ofthe plurality of panels, at least one of the one or more hinges being astanding hinge located between the first panel and the second panel;wherein the standing hinge includes one or more rotary stands; whereinthe tonneau cover has a closed position where all of the plurality ofpanels are coplanar and extend within a plane, and when the first panelis rotated about the standing hinge, the one or more rotary stands liftthe first panel and the second panel a distance above the plane.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau cover comprising: (a) one ormore panels including at least a header panel; (b) one or more trackslocated within the header panel; and (c) one or more sliders connectedto and movable along the one or more tracks, the one or more slidersbeing adapted to receive a tether that connects the tonneau cover to avehicle so that the tonneau cover is prevented from moving relative tothe vehicle.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau cover comprising: (a) aplurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges located between andconnecting each panel of the plurality of panels; (c) one or more rotarylocks located on a first side, a second side, or both sides of one ormore of the one or more hinges, one of the plurality of panels, or both,the one or more rotary locks including: (i) one or more panel caps and(ii) one or more rail locks that create a lock with the one or morepanel caps when the tonneau cover is in a closed position so that thetonneau cover is prevented from being opened proximate to the one ormore hinges where the one or more rotary locks are located.

The present teachings provide one or more expansion links that connecttwo or more panels together and each expansion link provides a specificamount of rotation of a first panel relative to a second panel. Thepresent teachings provide a single cover that extends over all or aportion of a panel and a hinge so that the single cover prevents fluidfrom penetrating though the hinge; the cover holds the hinge together;the cover disconnects from the hinge, the panel, or both to facilitatemovement of the hinge without restriction by the cover; or a combinationthereof. The present teachings provide a tonneau cover with hinges thatinclude one or more expansion caps that extend a hinge to a locationproximate to or over a rail cap, a support rail, or both. The presentteachings provide a tonneau cover that includes one or more standinghinges that lift one or more panels from a rail cap, a header panel, orboth so that the one or more panels are spaced a distance away from therail cap, the header panel, or both when one of the tonneau covers isrotated relative to a second tonneau cover. The present teachingsprovide one or more connectors that connects the tonneau cover to avehicle and the one or more connectors are movably locked within a trackso that the one or more transverse connectors are movable in atransverse direction while the one or more connectors preventlongitudinally movement of the tonneau cover. The present teachingsprovide one or more hinges that include one or more rotary locks thatprevent the hinges from being lifted vertically when the tonneau coveris a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a truck and a tonneau cover.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a tonneau cover.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tonneau cover.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6A1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VIA.

FIG. 6A2 is a close-up side view of a hinge.

FIG. 6A3 is an exploded view a hinge.

FIG. 6B1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VIB.

FIG. 6B2 is a close-up view of a hinge.

FIG. 6B3 is an exploded view of a hinge.

FIG. 6C1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VIC.

FIG. 6C2 is a close-up view of a hinge.

FIG. 6C3 is an exploded view of a hinge.

FIG. 6D1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VID.

FIG. 6D2 is a close-up view of a hinge with a rotary stand.

FIG. 6D3 is a close-up view of a hinge without a rotary stand (notshown).

FIG. 6D4 is an exploded view of a hinge.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover that is folded twotimes.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a tonneau cover that is folded two times.

FIG. 9A is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box IX.

FIG. 9B is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box IX with the expansion caps(not shown) removed.

FIG. 9C is a close-up view of a hinge including a cover.

FIG. 10A is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box X.

FIG. 10B is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box X with the rotary stand(not shown) removed.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover that is foldedthree times.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a tonneau cover that is folded three times.

FIG. 13A is a close-up view of FIG. 12 in box XIII.

FIG. 13B is a close-up view of FIG. 12 in box XIII with the extensioncaps (not shown) and the spacer cap (not shown) removed.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a tonneau cover that is folded four times.

FIG. 15A is a top perspective view of an extension cap.

FIG. 15B is a bottom perspective view of an extension cap.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an expansion link.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a tonneau connector of FIG. 14 withinBox XVII.

FIG. 18 is a close-up exploded view of the slider removed from the trackin the panel.

FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of a standing hinge engaged with arail cap and/or a support rail.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the standing hinge lifting a panel above therail cap and/or support rail.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the standing hinge lifting the panel above therail cap and/or support rail.

FIG. 22 illustrates the rotary lock forming a connection with a raillock.

FIG. 23 is a close-up view of the rotary lock connecting with the raillock in box XXIII of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the rotary locks engaged with rail locks.

FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of the expansion caps in contactwith a seal so that fluid is retained within a channel in the rail capand/or support rail.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the seal being compressedby the expansion caps to create a seal.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the end caps extending from an end of thehinges so that an end of the panels and an end of the panels arecoplanar.

FIG. 28 a bottom view of a standing cap.

FIG. 29 is a bottom perspective view of a standing cap.

FIG. 30 is a top perspective view of a standing cap from a first side.

FIG. 31 is a top perspective view of a standing cap from a second side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present teachings as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachingsshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription, but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The vehicle as discussed herein may be any vehicle that has an openarea, which may be covered. The open area, preferably, is a bed. Thevehicle may be a truck, a trailer, El Camino, a UTV, ranchero,Gladiator, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the vehicle is a truckor a pickup truck. The vehicle may have one bed. The bed may function tostore and carry articles. The bed may carry virtually any article thatmay fit within the bed. The bed of the vehicle may be an open area forstoring items. The bed may be 1 m or longer, 1.5 m or longer, or 2 m orlonger. The bed may be 3 m or less or 2.5 m or less. The bed may beconnected to one or more tonneau covers via one or more connectors.

The one or more connectors may prevent longitudinal movement of thetonneau cover relative to the vehicle. The connector may tether thetonneau cover to a bed of a vehicle, a fastener, or both. The connectormay connect to one or more fasteners. The connector may be adjustable.The connector may connect to a fastener or a fastener may connect one ormore parts of the tonneau cover together. The connector may be part of atonneau connector or include a tonneau connector. The connector and thefastener may be directly connected together. Preferably, the connectorand the fastener may be indirectly connected together.

The one or more fasteners may function to connect two or more parts of atonneau cover together. The fastener may be part of the vehicle. Atether, connector, tonneau connector, the tonneau cover, or acombination thereof may connect to a connector of the vehicle torestrict movement of the tonneau cover. The one or more fasteners mayconnect a header panel, a header guide, a header cap, a spacer cap, anexpansion cap, or a combination thereof to a panel, a hinge, or both.The one or more fasteners may fit within a track. The one or morefasteners may act as a stop. The one or more fasteners may restrictmovement within a track. The one or more fasteners may be threaded. Theone or more fasteners may be a screw, nut, bolt, pin, locking member,“T” shaped, “L” shaped, have a head that fits within the track, have ahead that is located outside of a track, or a combination thereof.Preferably, the one or more fasteners, tonneau connectors, or both mayassist in connecting a header panel to a side rail, a rail cap, asupport rail, or a combination thereof. The one or more fasteners mayprevent or restrict movement of the rail cap, the support rail, or bothrelative to a header panel (e.g., restrict movement to 1 cm or less or0.5 cm or less).

The rail cap may function to connect to a top of the vehicle, a top of abed, or both and create a support structure the tonneau cover, one ormore panels, or both. The rail cap may extend above an original railcap. The rail cap may replace an original rail cap. For example, anoriginal rail cap may be removed and an aftermarket rail cap attached inits place. The rail cap may create a recess so that the tonneau coverwhen in a closed position a top of the tonneau cover is flush or subflush with a top of the rail cap, a top of a side of a bed, or both. Therail cap may attach to a wall of a bed and assist in connecting thepanels to the bed, assist in removing fluid, or both. The one or morerail caps may be connected to the vehicle via clamps, holes in stakepockets, holes in the sidewalls, or a combination thereof. The rail capsmay be flush mounted. Each side of the vehicle may include a rail cap.The tailgate of the vehicle may include a rail cap. The rail caps maytaper from a front end towards a rear end. The rail caps may directfluid through the stake pockets, an end of the vehicle, out of recesses,through the tailgate, or a combination thereof. The teachings of therail cap as found herein including the teachings found in applicationSer. No. 62/640,799and Ser. No. 16/296,578 are expressly incorporated byreference herein for all purposes including those of connection, fluidmanagement, flushness, sub-flushness, or a combination thereof. The oneor more rail caps may be part of a support rail or used with a supportrail. A support rail may connect the tonneau cover to a vehicle bed, avehicle, a side wall of a bed, or a combination thereof instead of arail cap.

The one or more support rails may function to support one or more sidesand/or edges of a tonneau cover. The one or more support rails mayextend over an original rail cap. The one or more support rails may beconnected to the vehicle, the bed, or both via one or more fasteners,clamps, or both. The one or more support rails may connect to and extendalong a side of a bed. All or a portion of the one or more support railsmay extend into a vehicle bed. The one or more support rails may have aportion that extends over a top of a side wall of a bed. The one or moresupport rails may be located below a top plane of the bed so that thetonneau cover may be flush or sub-flush when the tonneau over is in aclosed position. The one or more support rails may include one or morechannels that remove fluid, prevent fluid from entering a vehicle bed,or both. The one or more support rails may include one or more sealsthat form a seal with the tonneau cover to prevent fluid and debris fromentering the bed. The one or more support rails may extend an entirelength of a bed of a vehicle. The one or more support rails may contacta first side, a second side, or both sides of one or more panels of atonneau cover and preferably both sides of a tonneau cover.

The one or more tonneau covers may function to enclose all or a portionof a bed. The one or more tonneau covers may lock items within a bed.The one or more tonneau covers may prevent fluid, debris, or both fromentering into the bed. The one or more tonneau covers may include one ormore panels. The tonneau cover when in a closed position may preventfluid, debris, or both from entering a bed and may protect the contentsof the bed. The tonneau cover when in a stored position may allow foringress and egress into and out of the bed, the contents to be accessed,or both. The tonneau cover fold and be stored substantially verticallybehind a rear window of a cab. The tonneau cover may be a plurality ofpanels that are connected together via one or more hinges. The pluralityof panels may each be movable between a stored position and a closedposition.

The tonneau cover in a closed position may function to cover all or aportion of a bed and preferably a bed of a vehicle so that the contentsof the bed may be protected, covered, or both. The closed position maybe where one or more panels of the tonneau cover extend in a plane, in aplane parallel to a bottom of a bed, cover a portion of a bed, or acombination thereof. When all of the panels are in the closed positionthe bed may be entirely covered, locked, substantially fluid resistant,or a combination thereof. When the panels are in the closed position thepanels may be coplanar. Some panels may be in a closed position and somepanels may be in a stored position. For example, a tail panel may extendover a central panel so that a very end of a bed may be exposed whilethe rest of the bed remains covered.

The stored position may function to expose all or a portion of a bed sothat contents of the bed may be accessible. The stored position may bewhere one or more panels are moved relative to one or more other panelsinto a nested configuration, a stacked configuration, or both. Thestored position may be where one panel is rotated over another panel.The stored position (e.g., fully stored position) may be where two ormore, three or more, or four or more panels are stacked one over anotherand then turned on end so that substantially all of the bed is exposed.The stored position may be where a stack of panels extends generallyparallel to the rear of a vehicle (e.g., ±15 degrees or less, ±10degrees or less, about ±5 degrees or less, or about ±1 degree or more).For example, the panels in a fully stored position may be angled towardsa rear of a vehicle or a rear of a vehicle cab. The fully stored panelsmay rotate beyond 90 degrees and may rest upon the one or more bumpersand the one or more bumpers may prevent further rotation of the panels.The fully stored panels may be where a tail panel and three centralpanels are in a generally parallel position and then turned on end toextend generally vertically above a header panel.

The panels may function to movably connect together to enclose a bed andto move so that the bed is accessible to a user. The tonneau cover mayinclude two or more panels, three or more panels, four or more panels,or even five or more panels. The tonneau cover may include a headerpanel, a tail panel, and one or more panels therebetween. The tonneaucover may include one or more panels, two or more panels, three or morepanels, or four or more panels between the header panel and the tailpanel. The panels between the header panel and the tail panel may becentral panels. The central panels may include a first central panel, asecond central panel, a third central panel, or a combination thereof.The header panel may be a panel that connects the tonneau cover to thevehicle. The header panel may not be located at an end of the tonneaucover. The panels in a closed position may all be located within asingle plane. The panels may be connected together and rotatablerelative to each other. The panels may be rotated so that one panel islocated above another panel in a stacked configuration. The panels mayeach include a core, an upper cover, a lower cover, or a combinationthereof. The panels may be connected to the hinges by a fame, a cover,one or more links, or a combination thereof. The panels may have anupper cover that extends along an all or a portion of the panel and thenover all or a portion of a hinge. The panels may have a lower cover thatextends along all or a portion of rear surface of a panel and stopsbefore covering the hinge. The lower cover may cover a portion of ahinge.

The one or more covers may function to hold a hinge together, seal ahinge, prevent fluid from entering a hinge, support a first panel abovea second panel, or a combination thereof. The one or more covers mayextend from a first panel across all of the panels and hinges andterminate at an end of a last panel. The one or more covers may extendacross one panel and one hinge. The cover may extend across one or moreof the hinge joints or all of the hinge joints. The cover may have aconnection location on each of the hinges. Preferably, the cover mayhave a connection location on each of the hinge joints of a hinge. Thecover may connect to each of a plurality of hinge joints of a hinge andthe cover may permit movement between each of the hinge joints, but thecover may maintain all of the hinge joints connected together so thatthe hinge joints create a movable hinge. The cover may connect thepanels to a hinge so that the hinge is movable relative to the panels. Arotary stand may be connected to the panels or held in place relative tothe panels by a cover. The cover may have a connection location on eachof the spacer bars. Preferably, an upper surface of a hinge joint, aspacer bar, a rotary stand or a combination thereof have a connectionlocation with a cover. The one or more covers may be made of a flexiblematerial. The one or more covers may be made of an abrasion resistantmaterial. The one or more covers may be folded or bent without failing.The one or more covers may be folded or bent 1,000 times or more, 10,000times or more, 50,000 times or more, 100,000 times or more, 250,000times or more, 500,000 times or more, or even 1,000,000 times or morewithout failing. For example, the cover may be folded to angle of about180 degrees so that a first part extends over a second part without thefolded region (e.g., a region connecting the first part to the secondpart) breaking, failing, tearing, separating a first portion from asecond portion, or a combination thereof. The cover may be foldedwithout the connection locations disconnecting from a hinge, a panel, ahinge joint, spacer bar, rotary stand, or a combination thereof.

The one or more covers may be made of or include a synthetic material,natural material, rubber, an elastomer, thermoplastic, a polyolefin, avulcanized material, vinyl, or a combination thereof. Preferably, thecover is made of or includes a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) or athermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). The cover may include or be connected bya thermoplastic adhesive, a thermoplastic adhesive polymer resin, orboth. The cover adhesive may be made of or include a CoPolyamide,CoPolyester, Polyolefin, Ternary, Polypropylene, Polyruethane, or acombination thereof. The adhesive may be activated by heat, radiofrequency (e.g., RF or HF), ultrasound, moisture, pressure, or acombination thereof. One example of an adhesive that may be used iscreated by Spunfab®, the teachings of which are expressly incorporatedby reference herein for all purposes. The one or more covers may have athickness of about 5 mm or less, about 3 mm or less, about 1 mm or less,about 0.5 mm or less, or about 0.1 or less. The one or more covers mayhave a thickness of about 0.025 mm or more (e.g., 1 thousandth), about0.05 or more, or about 0.07 or more. The cover may be a continuouslyapplied to the panels and self-adhere to the panels during theapplication process. The cover may be connected by a separate adhesivethat is applied to the cover and the panels, the hinges, or both. Thecover may be a film that overlays all or a portion of the tonneau coverand is connected to all or a portion of the tonneau cover. Preferably,the cover forms one continuation surface that covers an entire area of atonneau cover (e.g., all of the hinges and all of the panels). Morepreferably, the cover extends over all of the joints, slats, foldingregions, moving regions, hinge joints, or a combination thereof so thatone continuous surface is created. The cover may be connected to all orportions of the tonneau cover (e.g., panel or hinges) and disconnectedfrom portions of the tonneau cover (e.g., panels or hinges).

The connection locations may function to connect the cover to all or aportion of a panel, all or a portion of a hinge, or both. The connectionlocations may be at any location along a panel, a hinge, or both. Theconnection locations may connect the cover to about 50 percent or more,about 60 percent or more, about 70 percent or more, about 80 percent ormore, about 90 percent or more, about 95 percent or more, or about 97percent or more of a panel, a hinge, or both. The connection locationsmay connect the cover to about 99 percent or less, about 98 percent orless, about 95 percent or less, or about 93 percent or less of a panel,a hinge, or both. The panel and cover may entirely be connected byconnection locations and may be free of any disconnection locations. Thecover may include connection locations at every location along a paneland may be free of connection locations at a transition from the panelsto hinges. The connection locations may be mechanical attachment orchemical attachment of a cover to a hinge, a panel, or both. Theconnection locations may be formed by a screw, a bolt, staple, a flange,or a combination thereof that extend over or through a cover to connectthe cover to a panel, a hinge, or both. Preferably, the connectionlocations are formed by a liquid or solid adhesive. The connectionlocations may be formed by applying an adhesive between the panel, thehinge, or both and the cover. The adhesive may be a liquid adhesive thatdries, cures, or both. The adhesive may be cured with heat, radiofrequency (e.g., RF or HF), ultrasound, moisture, pressure, or acombination thereof that connects the cover to the panel, the hinges, orboth. The adhesive may create a connection location that is rigid. Theadhesive may create a connection location that has some elastomericcharacteristics. For example, the cover may move relative to the panel,the hinge, or both by stretching the adhesive if a force is applied tothe cover. The connection locations may hold the cover to the panel, thehinge or both so that the cover is immovable relative to the panel, thehinges, or both. The connection locations may maintain the covergenerally parallel to the panels, the hinges, or both when the tonneaucover is in a closed position. The connection locations may maintaincontact with the panels, the hinges, or both when the tonneau cover ismoved and the disconnection locations of the cover may move relative tothe panel, the hinges, or both when the tonneau cover is moved between astored position and a closed position.

The one or more disconnection locations may function to be free of aconnection or a permanent connection with the panel, the hinge, or bothat a location proximate to or under the cover. The disconnectionlocations may temporarily connect to the hinge, the panel, or both butmay disconnect when the panels are moved from a closed position to astored position. For example, the disconnection locations may betemporarily connected via surface tension, tackiness, magnets, or acombination thereof, but the temporary connection may be overcome sothat the cover is disconnected from the panels, hinges, or both. Thedisconnection locations may be regions (e.g., disconnection regions) onthe panels, the hinges, or both and may function to assist in guidingfluid from a hinge joint. The disconnection locations may both assist inmovement of the hinge joints and removal of fluids. The one or moredisconnection locations be free of a mechanical connection, a chemicalconnection, or both. Preferably, the one or more disconnection locationsmay be free of adhesive. The disconnection locations may permit thecover to move relative to hinges, panels, or both in the storedposition, the closed position, or both. The disconnection locations maypermit movement of the cover relative to the hinges, the panels, or bothwhen the tonneau cover is being moved toward a stored position or from astored position. The one or more disconnection locations may extend overa hinge, over a panel, or both but the cover may move relative to thehinge, the panel, or both at a location proximate to the respectivehinge, panel, or both. The disconnection locations may be where thecover may move, fold, or both relative to a hinge, a panel, or both. Forexample, when a first panel is folded relative to a second panel, alength of the hinge may be reduced due to some of the hinge (e.g., hingejoint) extending behind another part of the hinge and the cover maybend, fold, arc, bunch or a combination thereof to permit a portion of ahinge to extend behind another portion of a hinge. The disconnectionlocations may release from a portion of the hinge to accommodate for anincrease or decrease in length of a hinge when the hinge moves between astored position and a closed position. For example, when an extendedhinge moves from a closed position to a stored position a length ofhinge exposed may decrease so that the cover disconnects from thedecrease in length to prevent a force from being applied on the cover.The disconnection location may be located between the spacer bars, abovea hinge step, above a top surface of an expansion projection, or acombination thereof. The disconnection location may be at a hingeconnector. The disconnection locations may be at a joint that is movable(e.g., between a panel and a hinge, between hinge joints, or both). Thedisconnection location may be a region between a top surface of a spacerbar and a location of a panel located above a frame of a hinge. Thecover may extend over a space where there is a gap located between thehinge and cover. A disconnection location may extend an entire width ofa tonneau cover (e.g., a width of a vehicle). The disconnection locationmay extend in a straight line (e.g., a first edge of a tonneau cover toa second edge of a tonneau cover). The disconnection location may bepulled flat when the tonneau cover is moved from a stored position to aclosed position so that the cover appears seamless. The disconnectionlocation may bunch when the tonneau cover is moved from a closedposition to a stored position. The disconnection locations may belocated at or between any of the panels. The disconnection locations maybe located between the header panel and a central panel, two centralpanels, a central panel and a tail panel, or a combination thereof.

The header panel may function to connect the tonneau cover to a vehicle.The header panel may function to support the other panels when thepanels are moved into a stored position. The header panel may connect toa rail cap, a support rail, or both and be free of rotation,longitudinal movement, lateral movement, or both. The header panel mayform a base that the other panels are rotated unto so that the panelsare stored along a forward region of a vehicle bed, behind a cab of avehicle, or both. The header panel may span a width of a bed. The headerpanel may connect to the vehicle with header guides, connectors, tonneauconnectors, or a combination thereof. The header panel may extend to aforward most end of a vehicle bed proximate to a cab of the vehicle. Theheader panel may include one or more header caps.

The one or more header panels may extend a header panel over a rail cap,a support rail, or both. The one or more header panels may cap anextruded portion of a header panel. The one or more header panels may beextruded, made of plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. The headerpanels may be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the otherpanels when the panels are moved into a stored position. The header capmay be made of metal, plastic, or both. The header panel may have one ormore header caps at each end of the header panel.

The header cap may cover the ends of the header panel. One or moreheader caps may be located at each end of the header panel. The headercaps may extend over or connect to a rail cap, a header panel, or both.The header caps may enclose all or a portion of a recess or a headerrecess within the header panel. The header cap may lock a connectorwithin the header recess, a track, or both.

The header recess may function to create a void in the header panel,create a connection location for a header recess to connect to a hingeor an adjacent panel. The header recess may receive a portion of ahinge. The header recess may allow a panel, a central panel, a hinge, ora combination thereof to move relative to the header panel. The headerrecess may extend a width of the header panel. The header recess may beenclosed within the header panel when the header caps are connected tothe header panel. The header recess may form a track in the header panelthat a connector is located within. The header recess may allow forlateral movement of a connector. The header recess and the header guiderecess may assist in connecting the header panel to the vehicle bed sothat the tonneau cover is maintained in a fixed position once connectedto the vehicle.

The header guide recess may function to receive a fastener, a headerguide, a header guide connector to create a connection between the railcap, the support rail, a vehicle bed, a side wall of a vehicle bed, or acombination thereof. The header guide recess allows the header guide tolaterally move into an engagement with a rail cap, a support rail, orboth. The header guide recess may extend an entire width of the headerpanel. The header guide recess may be one or more segments, two or moresegments, three or more segments, or four or more segments. The headerguide recess may be located within side regions of the header panel andnot extend in a middle or central portion of the header panel. Theheader guide recess may have a “T” shape so that a fastener (e.g., aheader guide connector) may not be removed once the fastener is extendedinto the header guide recess, but the fastener may be movable along theheader guide recess. The header guide recess may directly receive aportion of the header guide. The header guide recess may be a track thatthe header guide, the header guide connector, or both may move along toconnect the header panel to the bed. The header guide recess may receivea fastener or a connection device that connects the header guide to theheader guide recess.

The header guide may function to prevent the header panel from beingvertically lifted. The header guide may extend under a portion of a railcap, a support rail, or both to prevent the header panel from beinglifted, opened, moved, or a combination thereof. The header guide mayslide under the rail cap, the support rail, or both to create aconnection. The header guide may be made or metal, plastic, a polymer,or a combination thereof. The header guide may be sufficiently rigid toprevent movement of the header panel relative to the truck bed. Theheader guide may include one or more header guide connectors.

The one or more header guide connectors may connect a header guide to atonneau cover, a header panel, a header guide recess, or a combinationthereof. The one or more header guides may be a monolithic part of theheader guide, may be a unitary part, may be added to the header guide,or a combination thereof. The one or more header guides may have acomplementary fit to the header guide recess. The one or more headerguide connectors may extend within the header guide recess so that theheader guide is suspended from the header panel. The header guideconnectors may be a fastener. Preferably, the header guide connectorsand the header guide are a same device (e.g., one monolithic piece). Theheader guide connector may extend from the header guide and the headerguide may hang below the header guide connector. The header guideconnectors may be restricted from movement by a fastener that is locatedwithin the header guide recess. The header guide connectors may extendalong the header guide recess until the header guide connectors contacta fastener that restricts movement of the header guide connector. Theheader guide connector may be moved into a locked position and thenlocked in place by a fastener restricting movement of the header guideconnector within the header guide recess. The one or more header guideconnectors may include one or more ears.

The one or more ears function to retain the header guide connectorwithin the header recess. The one or more ears may be one circular earthat prevents removal of the header guide connector. The one or moreears may extend from opposing sides of the header guide connector. Theone or more ears may extend from four quarters of the header guideconnector. The one or more ears may be spaced apart by about 30 degreesor more, about 45 degrees or more, or about 60 degrees or more. The oneor more ears may be spaced apart by about 180 degrees or less, about 150degrees or less, about 125 degrees or less, or about 90 degrees or less.The one or more ears may have a length that is about 5 degrees or more,about 10 degrees or more, about 20 degrees or more relative to acircumference or perimeter of the header guide connector. The one ormore ears may have a length that is about 90 degrees or less, about 60degrees or less, about 45 degrees or less, or about 30 degrees or lessrelative to a circumference of perimeter of the header guide connector.The ears may slide upon walls (e.g., the walls may form a track) of theheader guide connector but may restrict or prevent the header guideconnector from being removed from the header recess. The header guideconnector may include one or more ears upon a top so that the headerguide connector is spaced within the guide recess, the ear contacts arear side of a top surface of a guide recess, or both. The ears mayretain the header guide connector within the header guide recess evenwhen the header guide connector is rotated within the header recess. Theears may assist in creating tension between the header guide and therail cap or support rail so that the seal is compressed by the panels,the hinges, the expansion caps, or a combination thereof. For example,the ears may connect the header guide to the header panel and when theheader guide is in contact with a rail cap or a header panel theconnection may pull the header panel down towards the rail cap or theheader panel compressing a seal.

The one or more seals may function to prevent fluid, debris, or bothfrom passing into an internal location under the tonneau cover. The oneor more seals may be elastomeric. The one or more seals may becompressible. The one or more seals may be connected to or extend into arail cap, a support rail, or both. The seal may be pressed into the railcap, the support rail, or both to connect the seal thereto. The one ormore seals may have one or more lines of contact. The one or more sealsmay have a cross-sectional shape that is “O”-shaped, “D”-shaped, oval,square, rectangular, diamond, shaped, or a combination thereof. The sealmay be made of or include an elastomer. The seal may be made of anelastically deformable material that bounces back when the tonneau coveris in a stored position. The one or more seals may have more than onecontact locations or lines of contact. The one or more seals may have abody portion that creates a seal and one or more seal fingers thatassist in creating a seal.

The one or more seal fingers function to create a first barrier againstfluid penetration. The one or more seal fingers may extend outward intocontact with a bottom of a panel to create a seal. The seal fingers mayextend outward from the seal. The seal fingers may extend above a planeof a top of a seal. The seal finger may be compressed with the seal whenthe panel contacts the seal. A channel may be formed between the seal,the seal finger, or both and a rail cap, a support rail, or both.

The channel may function to divert water from the tonneau cover, therail cap, the support rail, or a combination to an external location sothat the water is prevented from entering the tonneau cover. The channelmay extend along an entire length of the tonneau cover. The channel mayextend along a portion of a length of the tonneau cover. The channel maydirect fluids into the stake pockets, out a tail gate, out a fluidchannel through a rail cap, through a support rail, or a combinationthereof. The channels may be located between a vertical wall of a railcap, a vertical wall of a support rail, or both and a seal. The channelmay be located entirely or partially under a panel, a hinge, anexpansion cap, or a combination thereof. At least a portion of thechannels may extend under a central panel.

The one or more central panels may cover a central portion of a bed. Theone or more central panels may be located between a header panel and atail panel. The one or more central panels may be a panel that isfolded. The one or more central panels may be a first panel, secondpanel, third panel, fourth panel, or a fifth panel. The one or morecentral panels preferably, are middle panels that are not a first or alast panel of a tonneau cover. The tonneau cover may include only onecentral panel. The tonneau cover may include two central panels. Thetonneau cover may include three central panels. The central panels mayinclude a first central panel, a second central panel, and a thirdcentral panel. One or more of the central panels may support the otherpanels when the tonneau cover is converted into a stored position. Theone or more central panels may be prevented from being vertically liftedwhen the one or more central panels are in a closed position. The one ormore central panels may be connected by one or more hinges. The one ormore central panels may be in communication with one or more tailpanels.

The one or more tail panels function to end the tonneau cover, create aseal with a tailgate, or both. The one or more tail panels may extendover a tailgate, into communication with a tailgate, a rail cap of atailgate, a support rail of a tailgate, or a combination thereof. Theone or more tail panels may contact with the side walls and thetailgate. The one or more tail panels may lock a tonneau cover to atailgate. The one or more tail panels may be a first panel rotated whenthe tonneau cover is moved from a closed position to a stored position.The tail panels may be the last panels moved when a tonneau cover ismoved from a stored position to a closed position. The tail panels mayinclude one or more tail extensions to extend the tail panel to atailgate or over a tailgate.

The one or more tail extensions function to extend the tail panel over atailgate. The one or more tail extensions may assist in locking atonneau cover to a bed of a vehicle. The one or more tail extensions maymirror a shape of a tailgate. The one or more tail extensions may bestraight, rounded, mirror the shape of the tailgate, be arcuate, or acombination thereof. The one or more tail extensions may form a terminaledge or may include one or more terminal edges.

The terminal edges of the tonneau cover may function to define theperimeter or area of the tonneau cover. The terminal edges of thetonneau cover may extend over a sidewall of a vehicle bed, a supportrail, a rail cap, inside of the sidewalls of the vehicle bed, inside ofthe rail cap, inside of the support rail, or a combination thereof. Theterminal edge may be located inside of the bed so that the tonneau covermay be flush or sub-flush. The panels, the hinges, the expansion caps ora combination thereof may all include one or more terminal edges.

The one or more hinges function to move or permit movement so that aninterior of a bed of a vehicle is exposed or enclosed. The one or morehinges may function to permit one panel to move relative to anotherpanel. The one or more hinges may rotate a panel about 90 degrees ormore, about 135 degrees or more, about 180 degrees or more, about 181degrees or more, or about 182 degrees or more relative to a secondpanel. The one or more hinges may rotate a panel about 270 degrees orless, about 225 degrees or less, about 190 degrees or less, or about 185degrees or less relative to a second panel (e.g., about 181 to about 184degrees). The hinges may support one end of a panel relative to a secondpanel. For example, when a first panel rotates over the second panel thehinge may support the first panel and maintain a gap between the firstpanel and the second panel. The hinges may form a cantilevered support.The hinges may connect a first panel to a second panel. The hinges maybe a plurality of hinges. One hinge may connect each panel together. Allof the hinges of the tonneau cover may be of a same style or type. Everyhinge may be of a different style or type. The tonneau cover may includemore than one style or type of hinge. The hinges may be an extendedhinge, a hemispherical hinge, standing hinge, or a combination thereof.For example, if a tonneau cover has five panels the tonneau cover mayhave four different hinge types or styles. In another example, some ofthe hinges may include one or more header links, one or more panellinks, or both.

The one or more header links, panel links, or both may function toconnect to an end of a hinge to a panel and preferably a header panel,first panel, or both. The one or more header links, panel links, or bothmay connect a header panel to a first panel. The one or more headerlinks, panel links, or both may extend from a first panel towards asecond panel or vice versa. The one or more header links, panel links,or both may be directly connected to a panel. The one or more headerlinks, panel links, or both may be connected to a frame that isconnected to a panel. The one or more header links, panel links, or bothmay be part of a panel. The one or more header links, panel links, orboth may be a monolithic part of a panel. For example, the header link,panel links, or both and panel may be formed at the same time of thesame material. The one or more header links, panel links, or both mayextend parallel to a top of the tonneau cover. A header link of a firstpanel may extend outward and contact a panel link of a second panel sothat rotation of a first panel is prevented relative to a second panel,the first and second panel are stopped in a coplanar position, or both.The header links, panel links, or both may be sufficiently long so thatwhen a header link of a first panel contacts a panel link of a secondpanel the first panel and the second panel are generally planar. Bothpanels may include panel links. A header link may be a panel link thatis connected to a header panel. A header link may be connected to aheader panel and a panel link may be connected to a panel and the headerlink and the panel link may be identical, mirror images of each other,or both. The header link, panel link, or both may include one or moreframes.

The one or more frames may function to connect a header link, a panellink, or both to a respective panel. The one or more frames may functionto connect a hinge and a panel together. The one or more frames may belocated on an interior of a panel. The one or more frames may be locatedbetween two covers (e.g., a top cover and a bottom cover). The one ormore frames may be connected to a core of a panel (e.g., a rigid piecethat is located between the top cover and the bottom cover). The one ormore frame may be a box, a rectangle, hollow, solid, have an open end,have a closed end, receive a portion of the core, have a smooth surfacethat faces the covers, have a recessed surface, have recesses thatreceive excess adhesive, or a combination thereof. The frame whenconnected to the covers, the core, or both may become rigid relative tothe cover, the core, or both. The frame may rigidify the panel, aterminal edge or a panel, a location of a panel in contact with a hingeor that is part of a hinge, or a combination thereof. The frame may berotationally static, longitudinally static, or both. One or more panelsmay be free of a frame. The panels may include a monolithic frame. Theframe may be added into a panel, part of a construction of a panel, orboth. The frame may be connected to or include, a header link, a panellink, a hinge joint, a pocket, an expansion stop, a rotation stop, anexpansion projection, a ball, a socket, a recess in a top surface, arecess in a bottom surface, or a combination thereof. One style ofhinges may include a frame with a panel link or a header link extendingfrom the frame and one or more rotation stops located at an end of theheader link, the panel link, or both.

The one or more rotation stops function to maintain two panels in agenerally planar relationship relative to each other. A first rotationstop functions to contact a second rotation stop to limit movement of afirst panel relative to a second panel. The rotation stops may belocated at ends of the header link, the panel link, or both. Therotation stops and panel links, header links, or both may form agenerally “L” shape. The rotation stops may have a terminal end with abulbous portion. The bulbous portion may assist in mating two rotationstops together. The rotation stops may be sufficiently rigid so that twopanels are maintained in a planar relationship when the tonneau cover isin a closed position. A first rotation stop and a second rotation stopwhen in contact may restrict movement of two panels relative to eachother in a first direction but may allow movement in a second direction.The rotation stops may be located between any panels listed herein(e.g., a header panel, tail panel, central panels, or a combinationthereof). Preferably, the rotation stops are located between a headerpanel and first panel and extended hinges are located between otherpanels.

The one or more extended hinges function to connect two panels together.The one or more extended hinges function to support one or more panelsabove a plurality of intervening panels. The extended hinge may supporta third panel above a first panel, second panel, fourth panel, or acombination thereof. The extended hinge may support one panel abovethree other panels. An extended hinge may connect a panel (e.g., third)to another panel (e.g., fourth) and create a space between the panelsthat is sufficiently large so that one or more and preferably two ormore panels may fit between the panel and the another panel. Theextended hinges may separate two panels by a distance. The distance maybe equal to a thickness of one panel, a thickness of two panels, athickness of three panels, a thickness that is slightly larger than onepanel, slightly larger than two panels, slightly larger than threepanels, slightly larger than four panels (e.g.,1 mm or more, 3 mm ormore, 1 cm or less, 7 cm or less); or a combination thereof. Theextended hinges may support one panel generally parallel to one or moreother panels (e.g., within about ±5 degrees, about ±3 degrees or about±1 degree). The extended hinges may support a first end of a panelgenerally parallel to one or more panels. The extended hinges maysupport a panel so that a gap is created between two generally parallelpanels (e.g., 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, 5 cm or less, 3 cm or less).The extended hinge may span a distance of 10 cm or more, about 15 cm ormore, or even about 20 cm or more. The extended hinge may span adistance of about 50 cm or less, about 40 cm or less, about 30 cm orless, or about 25 cm or less. The extended hinge may include one or morespacer bars. The extended hinge may be free of spacer bars. The extendedhinge may be a combination of spacer bars and hinge joints connectedtogether. The extended hinge may be only hinge joints. Preferably, theextended hinge has between about 3 and 7 hinge joints (e.g., the hingejoints may be expansion links connected together) and one spacer bar.

The one or more hinge joints may function to permit one portion of ahinge to move relative to another portion of a hinge (e.g., an expansionlink to rotate relative to another expansion link). The one or morehinge joints may be part of a hinge, an extended hinge, an expansionlink, a hemispherical hinge, a standing hinge, or a combination thereof.The one or more hinge joints may be a location where two or more hingecomponents connect together or are movable relative to each other. Thehinge joints may be a ball and socket. The hinge joints may have aportion of one hinge portion (e.g., an expansion link) located inside ofand movable relative to another hinge portion. The one or more hingejoints may a location where two expansion links are connected togetherand the expansion links move relative to each other. The one or moreexpansion links may move relative to each other so that a length of thehinge joint changes (e.g., expands or contracts). The one or more hingejoints may be between two expansion links, a spacer bar and an expansionlink, an expansion link and a panel and/or frame, or a combinationthereof. The one or more hinge joints may be part of a frame, a panel, aspacer bar, an expansion link, or a combination thereof when aconnection between two parts of a hinge is created.

The one or more spacer bars may function to elongate or increase adistance that the extended joint covers or extends. The one or morespacer bars may be added in place of expansion links. The one or morespacer bars may support expansion links located on a first side, on asecond side, or both sides of the one or more spacer bars. The one ormore spacer bars may have a dimension (e.g., width (e.g., a dimension ofthe spacer bar that extends along a length of a bed)) that issubstantially equal to a thickness of a number of panels, a thickness ofpanels stacked one over another (e.g., about one or more panels, abouttwo or more panels, or about three or more panels). The one or morespacer bars may have a top surface that in the stored position isperpendicular to the panels. The one or more spacer bars may have a topsurface that in the closed position is parallel to the surface of thepanels or is coplanar with the panels. The spacer bars may form part ofthe tonneau cover surface when the tonneau cover is in the closedposition. The one or more spacer bars may include balls, sockets,expansion links, expansion projections, or a combination thereof. Theone or more spacer bars may pivot relative to a panel, another part of ahinge, or both. The one or more spacer bars may be located between andconnect two panels together without any intervening hinge parts. The oneor more spacer bars may support one panel relative to another panel. Theone or more spacer bars may support one panel over another panel. Theone or more spacer bars may include one or more spacer recess (e.g., asocket), one or more fasteners (e.g., ball) or a combination thereof sothat a panel is pivotable about a spacer bar, or vice versa. The one ormore spacer bars may include one or more spacer bars may include one ormore expansion projections, one or more pockets, or both. The one ormore spacer bars may have a fixed length and may be movable as one panelis moved relative to another panel. The one or more spacer bars may havea first amount that is exposed in a first position and a second amountthat is exposed in a second position. For example, a portion of a spacerbar may be covered by an expansion projection and as a hinge moves froma closed position to a stored position, more of the spacer bar may beexposed. The spacer bar may be a plurality of pieces connected togetheror one single piece. The spacer bar may be hollow, include a recess, orboth. The spacer bar may include one or spacer caps that cover thehollow area, the recess, or both.

The one or more spacer caps function to extend a spacer bar over a seal,over a rail cap, over a support rail, beyond a panel, over a side wallof a vehicle, or a combination thereof. The one or more spacer caps mayfunction to prevent fluid from passing through a hinge, proximate to aspacer bar, between a spacer bar and a seal, or a combination thereof.The one or more spacer caps may close one or both sides of a spacer bar.The one or more spacer caps may close one or more sides of a spacer bar.The one or more spacer caps may be angled so that the tonneau cover maybe located flush or sub-flush within the bed, relative to the rail caps,relative to the support rail, relative to the side walls of the vehicle,relative to a tailgate of a vehicle, or a combination thereof. The oneor more spacer caps may contact a seal, create a seal, or both toprevent fluid from penetrating the tonneau cover, entering into the bed,or both. The one or more spacer caps may guide fluid into a channel,trough, stake pocket, or a combination thereof. The spacer cap may havea terminal end that extends to be co-planar with a terminal end of apanel. The spacer caps may be substantially identical to an expansioncap except the spacer cap may be larger than the expansion caps. Theteachings of the expansion caps are expressly incorporated herein withregard to the elements of the expansion cap such as the tab, connectionfeature, cap, extension taper, vertical wall, or a combination thereof,all of which the spacer cap may include such that the teachings hereinas to those features may apply to the spacer cap. The spacer caps mayextend cantilever from a spacer bar. The spacer caps, the spacer bars,or both may include one or more fasteners, one or more spacer recesses,or both.

The one or more spacer recesses may function to receive one or morefasteners to form a connection. The one or more spacer recesses mayinclude an open space that one or more fasteners extend into to create aconnection. The one or more spacer recesses may be a closed shape (e.g.,circle, oval, square). The one or more spacer recesses may be an openshape (e.g., a “u”, a “c”). The one or more spacer recesses may receivea threaded member, a connection feature, an elastomeric member, anexpandable member, a pin, a set screw, a nut and bolt, or a combinationthereof. The one or more spacer recesses may form a snap fit. The one ormore spacer recesses may create a friction fit with a fastener. The oneor more spacer recesses may connect to and receive a fastener, a bumper,or both. The one or more spacer recesses may allow for some movement ofa bumper, an expansion cap, a spacer cap, or a combination thereofrelative to the spacer bar, the spacer recess, the expansion links, or acombination thereof. The spacer recesses may be located within expansionlinks, spacer bars, or both.

The one or more expansion links may function to connect to anotherexpansion links or expansion links of a frame. The one or more expansionlinks may function to connect together and supportively move relative toone another. One expansion link may have a portion (e.g., an expansionprojection) that extends into (e.g., a pocket) another expansion linkand the expansion links may move relative to each other. The expansionlinks may move a pre-determined distance relative to each other. Theexpansion links may rotate relative to each other, longitudinally move,or both so that a panel is moved out of a plane into a second planeabove another panel. The one or more expansion links may each rotateabout 20 degrees or more, about 25 degrees or more, about 30 degrees ormore (e.g., each expansion link may move a panel a rotational distanceof about 32 degrees). The expansion links may each rotate about 60degrees or less, about 50 degrees or less, about 45 degrees or less,about 40 degrees or less, or about 35 degrees or less. The expansionlinks as a hinge may rotate to an angle of about 175 degrees or more,about 179 degrees or more, about 180 degrees or more, about 181 degreesor more, or about 182 degrees or more. The expansion links as a hingemay rotate to an angle of about 190 degrees or less or about 185 degreesor less. The number of expansion links may be determined by dividing adesired angle of rotation by the rotation distance of each expansionlink. For example, if an angle of 186 degrees is desired and 6 expansionlinks are used then each expansion link may rotate an angle of about 31degrees. The expansion links as a hinge may rotate to an angle above 180degrees so that an opposing end of a panel is angled towards anotherpanel and contacts a support on a surface of the panel so that theopposing end is supported. An angle each expansion link rotates may bechanged by adjusting a length of the expansion stop, the expansionprojection or both. For example, if an expansion stop and expansionprojection are both 2 mm in length then the expansion link may rotate 32degrees and if the expansion projection length is shortened to 1.8 mmthe expansion link may rotate 28 degrees. The expansion links may beconnected together by an expansion projection of one expansion linkextending into a pocket of another expansion link. The expansionprojection of one expansion link may be prevented from being removed orfalling out of a pocket of another expansion link by a cover connectingthe two expansion links together and preventing movement of oneexpansion link relative to the other expansion link so that they becomedisconnected.

The one or more expansion projections may function to connect a frame oran expansion link to another frame or expansion link. The one or moreexpansion projections may function to extend into a pocket. The one ormore expansion projections may move within a pocket. The expansionprojections may function to extend outward from a frame or an expansionlink. The one or more expansion projections may extend from an oppositeside of an expansion link as the pocket. The one or more expansionprojections may have a “V” shape, a “U” shape, or both. The one or moreexpansion projections may fit entirely within a pocket of an adjacentframe or expansion link. The one or more expansion projections may movewithin a pocket as one panel is moved relative to another panel. Theexpansion projections may fit entirely within the pocket when thetonneau cover is in the closed position. The expansion projections maypartially extend out of the pocket when the tonneau cover is moved intoor in the stored position. The expansion projection may extend outwardin a first direction and then curve backward in a second direction. Theexpansion projection may have a flat portion, a linear portion, or both.The expansion projection may have a curved portion, and arcuate portion,or both. The curved portion may curve under the linear portion. A lengthof the expansion projection may be varied to change a distance eachhinge joint travels. A length of the expansion projection, a length ofan expansion stop, or both may be lengthened or shortened to vary anamount of rotation of each hinge joint or each expansion link. Thecurved portion may mirror a shape of the pocket. The curved portion mayhave a complementary fit to the pocket. The curved portion may have alength of about 1 mm or more, about 2 mm or more, about 3 mm or more,about 5 mm or more, about 1 cm or more, about 2 cm or more, or about 4cm or more. The curved portion may have a length of about 10 cm or less,about 7 cm or less, or about 5 cm or less. The expansion projection mayhave a terminal end (e.g., projection stop) that restricts movement ofthe expansion projection within the pocket.

The one or more projection stops may move within a pocket. The one ormore projection stops may restrict movement in a first direction or asecond direction. The one or more projection stops may contact one ormore expansion stops to restrict movement in the closed position, thestored position, or both. The one or more projection stops may assist inmaintaining a hinge in a stored position. A length of an expansionprojection, a length of a pocket (e.g., a distance the projection stopcan move relative to an expansion stop) may determine an angle that ahinge may move or an angle that an expansion link may move. Theexpansion stop may be located at an end of an arcuate portion of theexpansion projection. The expansion stop may be located under a planarportion of the expansion projection. The expansion stop may be locatedunder a hinge step or in a same plane as a hinge step. The hinge stepmay separate an expansion projection and a pocket.

The hinge step may function to receive a portion of an adjacentexpansion link when the expansion links are moved to a stored position.The hinge step may function to be free of contact with a cover (e.g., adisconnection location). The hinge step may assist one expansion link inrotating relative to another expansion link. The hinge step may create apivot point. The hinge step may be a reduction in wall thickness of theupper surface (e.g., first wall) of an expansion link. The hinge stepmay be located on a terminal end of the first wall, the upper surface,or both. The hinge step may be a reduction in thickness of the uppersurface so that the cover may disconnect and the expansion links mayrotate relative to each other into a stored position.

The one or more upper surfaces may function to support objects on thetonneau cover, to close a bed, prevent fluid and debris from entering abed, or a combination thereof. The one or more upper surfaces may be atop surface of an expansion cap. The upper surface may be an upper mostlayer of the expansion cap, spacer bar, panels, or a combinationthereof. The panels, hinges, spacer bars, spacer caps, expansion caps,or a combination thereof may each include an upper surface. The uppersurface of each component may be coplanar when the tonneau cover is inthe closed position. The upper surface of each component may be locatedwithin one or more planes, the upper surfaces may face one another, theupper surfaces may be parallel, or a combination thereof when the one ormore components of the tonneau cover are moved into the stored position.The one or more upper surfaces may have a cover that extends thereover.The one or more upper surfaces may extend over one or more pockets.

The pocket may function to receive all or a portion of an expansionprojection. The pocket may guide an expansion projection when theexpansion projection moves within the pocket. The pocket may support theexpansion projection so that as the panels move between a storedposition and a closed position, the panels may maintain a spaced apartrelationship. The pocket may allow for a limited range of rotationalmovement. The pocket may allow an expansion projection to move from afirst end of a pocket to a second end of the pocket. The pocket may havestops at one or both ends that stop the expansion link at predeterminedlocations so that each link moves a predetermined distance. In onedirection, a projection stop may contact an expansion stop to determinea length of movement of a length of rotation. In a second direction, atop surface or a planar portion of a pocket may contact a hinge step toprevent further rotation of the expansion links relative to each other.A shape of the pocket and a shape of the expansion projection may bemirror images, complementary, or both. The expansion projection may havea shape similar to that of the pocket and may fit within the pocket. Thepocket may have an opening that allows the expansion projection to movebetween a stored position and a closed position. The opening may besufficiently small that the expansion projection may not be pulledthrough the opening. The expansion projection may move laterally alongthe pocket for installation but may not longitudinally or rotationallymove out of the pocket. The pocket may be or include a generally “V”shaped portion, a generally “U” shaped portion, or both. The pocket maybe formed of one or more walls, two or more walls, or both. The pocketmay have a one or more linear walls, one or more arcuate walls, one ormore stop walls, or a combination thereof. The pocket may include two ormore walls that form an interior space. Preferably, the pocket includesthree or more walls that form an interior space within the pocket. Thefirst wall may extend in a first direction, the second wall may extendin a second direction, and the third wall may extend in a thirddirection. The first wall and third wall may extend generally towardseach other, in a diverging direction, or both. The first wall and secondwall may be connected via the second wall. The second wall may extend inan arcuate direction away from the first wall.

The first wall may form a top of the expansion link. The first wall maybe in a same plane as a top of the panels. The first wall may begenerally straight. The first wall may extend away from the expansionprojection. The first wall may extend at least partially over thepocket, at least partially over the expansion projection, or both. Thefirst wall, may terminate at a hinge step, extend beyond a hinge step,or both. The first wall may be generally planar along the entire lengthof the first wall. The first wall may have an upper surface. The uppersurface may be entirely located within a single plane. The upper surfacemay step down at a hinge step. The upper surface may step down at ahinge step on a first end, a second end, or both ends. The first wallmay connect the expansion projection to the pocket. The second wall mayextend from the first wall. The second wall may form a cantileveredconnection with the first wall.

The second wall functions to facilitate movement of the expansionprojection within the pocket, the panels between a stored position and aclosed position, or both. The second wall may be generally arcuate. Thesecond wall may extend beyond the first wall. The second wall may extendin two directions from the first wall. For example, when viewed in across-sectional view the second wall may move down and to the right. Thesecond wall may extend at a first slope and then towards an end of thesecond wall the slope may lessen. The slope of the second wall mayreduce to zero at some point along the second wall. A length of a secondwall may determine an amount of rotation of each expansion link of ahinge. The slope of the second wall may be negative at a location alongthe second wall. The second wall may have an arc that terminates at athird wall.

The third wall may function to fully or partially close the pocket. Thethird wall may function as a stop. The third wall may be an expansionstop. The expansion stop may close a portion of the pocket. Theexpansion stop may restrict movement of the expansion projection. Theexpansion projection may move along the second wall until the projectionstop contacts the expansion stop. The expansion stop may contact theprojection stop to support an expansion link, a panel, or both in astored position. A distance of the expansion stop from the first wall ora length of a second wall may determine an angle that an expansionprojection may move within the pocket. The expansion stop and theprojection stop may contact each other to support a hinge in a storedposition, limit movement of an expansion link, or both. The expansionstop may be angled backwards towards the second wall, the first wall, orboth. The expansion stop may extend at an acute angle relative to thesecond wall. The expansion stop may extend at an angle of about 15degrees or more, about 25 degrees or more, or about 35 degrees or morerelative to the second wall. The expansion stop may extend at an angleof about 90 degrees or less, about 75 degrees or less, about 60 degreesor less, or about 45 degrees or less relative to the second wall. Theexpansion stop may extend at an obtuse angle relative to the first wall.The expansion stop may extend at an angle of about 160 degrees or lessor about 145 degrees or less relative to the first wall. The expansionstop may extend at an angle of about 90 degrees or more, about 115degrees or more, or about 125 degrees or more relative to the firstwall. The pocket may be an area or region formed by or inside of thefirst wall, the second wall, the third wall, or a combination thereof.One or more expansion caps may connect to each pocket.

The one or more expansion caps may function to extend a hinge, create asealed edge, or both. The one or more expansion caps may extendcantilevered from an edge of a hinge, from a pocket, from an expansionlink, or a combination thereof. The one or more expansion caps maycontact a seal to prevent fluid from passing into the bed. The one ormore expansion caps prevent fluid from entering into the bed. The one ormore expansion caps may have a cap (e.g., top surface) that is coplanarwith a top surface of a panel, a hinge, or both. The one or moreexpansion caps may be fully or partially covered by a cover. The covermay prevent fluid from passing through or around the expansion caps. Theexpansion caps may extend over a sidewall of a bed, over a rail cap,over a header panel, or both. The expansion caps may extend at an angleaway from the hinges, towards the sidewall, or both. Each expansion capmay be connected to one hinge joint. The expansion caps may be made ofor include metal, plastic, a polymer, carbon fiber, a reinforcing fiber,or a combination thereof. The tonneau cover may include a plurality ofexpansion caps. The expansion caps may extend from a first side (e.g.,drivers side), a second side (e.g., passenger's side), or both. Eachsection of a hinge may include two expansion caps (e.g., one on eachend). The one or more expansion caps may include one or more of a tab, aconnection feature, a cap, an extension taper, a vertical wall, or acombination thereof.

The one or more tabs may function to prevent the expansion caps fromrotating relative to an expansion link. Each expansion cap may include aplurality of tabs. Preferably, each expansion cap includes only one tab.The one or more tabs may contact a bottom surface of an expansion linkto assist in forming a fixed connection with the expansion link. The oneor more tabs may extend from a bottom surface of the expansion cap, anextension taper, or both. The one or more tabs may extend cantileveredform the expansion cap. The one or more tabs may have a scallop, acontour, or both that mirrors a shape of an expansion link, iscomplementary in shape to an expansion link, or both. The one or moretabs may be located proximate to, below, or both one or more connectionfeatures.

The one or more connection features may function to form a connectionwith the expansion links. The one or more connection features may be anaperture, a projection, or both. The connection features may receive afastener that extends between and connects the expansion links and theexpansion caps. The connection feature may be a hole that receives apin, aligns with a spacer recess, aligns with a fastener, or acombination thereof. The one or more connection features may fixedlyconnect the expansion cap and the hinge joints, expansion links, or bothtogether. Each expansion cap may include one or more connectionfeatures. Each expansion cap may include a plurality of connectionfeatures. Preferably, each expansion cap may include a single connectionfeature. The connection features may connect the expansion cap to theexpansion links so that the expansion cap moves with the expansionlinks. The connection features may include a projection, a fastener, orboth that extends from the expansion cap into a spacer recess to form aconnection. The connection feature may be free of any projecting partsand a third part may extend through both the connection feature and aspacer recess to form a connection. The connection feature may belocated on a vertical wall of the hinge expansion cap.

The vertical wall may function to abut an expansion link. The verticalwall may include one or more connection features, one or more tabs, orboth. The one or more vertical walls may have a height that issubstantially equal to a height of an expansion link. The vertical wallmay support a tab that extends below the expansion links and aconnection feature that aligns with a spacer recess. The vertical wallmay form one end of an extension taper.

The one or more extension tapers may function to reduce a height of anexpansion cap, a spacer cap, or both so that a terminal edge is flush,sub-flush, or both with a top of a side wall of a bed. The one or moreextension tapers may function to reduce a height of the expansion capsas the extension tapers extends away from the hinge. The one or moreexpansion tapers may extend from the vertical wall to a location about10 percent or more, about 20 percent or more, about 30 percent or more,or about 60 percent or more a length of the cap. The one or moreexpansion tapers may extend from the vertical wall to a locationproximate an end of the cap, about 90 percent or less, about 80 percentor less, about 70 percent or less, or about 60 percent or less a lengthof the cap. For example, if the cap extends 10 cm from a vertical walland the expansion tapers to about 50 percent of a length of the cap, theextension tapers will terminate at about 5 cm from the vertical wall.The one or more expansion tapers may be solid. The one or more expansiontapers may have a hollow center. For example, the connection feature maybe exposed in-between walls of the expansion taper. The expansion tapersmay be two spaced apart walls that extend along edge regions of thevertical wall and the cap. The expansion taper may support the cap sothat as a load is placed on the cap, the cap does not twist, deflect, orboth. The expansion taper may act as a sway brace for the cap.

The one or more caps more caps may function to form an upper surface ofan expansion cap. The one or more caps may be coplanar with a hinge, apanel, or both. The one or more caps may terminate so that an end of theone or more caps end at an edge of a panel, a spacer bar, a spacer cap,or both. The one or more caps may have an upper surface that is locatedunder a cover, protected by a cover, or both. The upper surface of theone or more caps may form a support surface with adjacent upper surfaces(e.g., other expansion caps, panels, spacer caps, hinges, or acombination thereof). The one or more caps may be coplanar when in theclosed position and in different planes when the tonneau cover is in astored position. A top surface of the caps may form an arcuate shape.The cap may determine a major dimension of an expansion cap. The cap mayextend a full length of an expansion cap. A cap may extend from a firstside, a first edge, second edge, or a combination thereof of a verticalwall. A tab may extend from a second side, a first edge, a second edge,or a combination thereof of a vertical wall. Preferably, the cap extendsfrom a first side and a first edge (e.g., top) and a tab extends from asecond side and a second edge (e.g., bottom) of a vertical wall. Thecaps may extend over a rail cap, a header panel, or both so that fluidmay be guided away and prevented from entering the bed or passingthrough the tonneau cover. The one or more caps may include or belocated proximate to one or more hinge connectors.

The one or more hinge connectors may function to connect two or moreparts of a hinge together. The one or more hinge connectors may be addedto two parts of a hinge so that the two parts of the hinge may moverelative to each other. The one or more hinge connectors may bedeformable, elastic, or both so that two or more parts of a hinge maymove relative to each other while remaining connected, water resistant,or both. The one or more hinge connectors may be the cover. The one ormore hinge connectors may connect two expansion links, two frames, aheader link to a panel link, or a combination thereof. The one or morehinge connectors may be part of any hinge taught herein. The one or morehinge connectors may be part of a hinge with header links and panellinks, a hemispherical hinge, a standing hinge, an expansion hinge, or acombination thereof.

The one or more hemispherical hinges may function to create an arc or ahemispherical shape when a first panel is moved into a stored positionrelative to a second panel. The hemispherical hinges may function tosupport one panel above another panel. The hemispherical hinges mayinclude one or more hinge joints, one or more expansion links, or both.The hemispherical hinges may be a plurality of expansion links connectedtogether that support one panel relative to another panel when thepanels are moved into a stored position. The hemispherical hinges may befree of any spacer bars, any spacers, or both. The hemispherical hingesmay rotate a first panel an angle of about 160 degrees or more, about175 degrees or more, about 180 degrees or more, about 181 degrees ormore, or about 182 degrees or more relative to a second panel when thefirst panel and the second panel are in the stored position. Thehemispherical hinges may rotate a first panel an angle of about 190degrees or less or about 185 degrees or less relative to a second panelwhen the first panel and the second panel are in the stored position. Asdiscussed herein an amount of rotation or a number of hinges included ineach hemispherical hinge may depend upon the size and type of expansionlinks used to form the hemispherical hinge. The hemispherical hinge mayinclude two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six ormore hinge joints. The hemispherical hinge may include twenty or less,about fifteen or less, or about ten or less hinge joints. Thehemispherical hinge may include two or more, three or more, four ormore, or five or more expansion links. The hemispherical hinge mayinclude about twenty or less, about fifteen or less, or about ten orless expansion links. The hemispherical hinge may be located between atail panel and a central panel, between two central panels, between acentral panel and a header panel, or a combination thereof. Every hingewithin a tonneau cover may include hemispherical hinges. Three hingesmay be hemispherical hinges. Two hinges may be hemispherical hinges.Only one hinge may be a hemispherical hinge. Each hinge joint, eachexpansion link, or both may be connected to one or more bumpers.

The one or more bumpers may function to support the hemispherical hinge,the panels, or both when all or a portion of the tonneau cover is in astored position. The one or more bumpers may support one or more panelsabove a header panel. The one or more bumpers may contact a header panelso that all or a portion of a load of a stack of panels (e.g., two ormore panels or three or more panels) is at least partially supported bythe header panel. The one or more bumpers may extend from a rear surfaceof a hemispherical hinge. The one or more bumpers may extend from a rearsurface of a hinge or expansion link and contact the upper surface of apanel so that the hinge and/or stack of panels are supported above thepanel, do not scratch or damage the panel, or both. Each hemisphericalhinge may include one or more bumpers, two or more bumpers, or three ormore bumpers. Each hemispherical hinge may include 6 or less, 5 or less,or 4 or less bumpers. Each of the expansion links may include a bumper.Some of the expansion links may include a bumper. The one or morebumpers may be made of a solid material. The one or more bumpers may bemade of a flexible material. The one or more bumpers may be plasticallydeformable. Preferably, the one or more bumpers may be elasticallydeformable. The one or more bumpers may be made of a partially rigidmaterial. The material of each bumper or all of the bumpers together maypartially deform when a load of about 5 Kg or more, about 10 Kg or more,about 15 Kg or more, or about 20 Kg or more is applied to the bumpers.The material of each bumper or all of the bumpers together may partiallydeform when a load of about 100 Kg or less, about 75 Kg or less, about50 Kg or less, or about 35 Kg or less. The bumpers may have a hollowarea within the bumper. The hollow area may deform or change shape whena load is applied to the bumper. The hollow area may fully collapse whena full load is applied to the bumper (e.g., an entire stack of panels(i.e., two or more panels or three or more panels)). The hollow area maybe a shock absorber so that as a vehicle including a tonneau cover in astored position moves the panels can move when the vehicle hits bumpswithout the panels contacting another panel. The one or more bumpers maybe made of plastic, a thermoplastic, an elastomer, an elastomericmaterial, rubber, a foam, an open celled foam, a closed cell foam, or acombination thereof. The one or more bumpers may only be located on ahemispherical hinge. The one or more bumpers may be part of a standinghinge, an extended hinge, or both.

The one or more standing hinges may function to connect two panelstogether, elevate a panel out of a plane with the other panels when afirst panel is rotated over a second panel. The one or more standinghinges may move a central panel out of plane when a tail panel isrotated over the central panel. The one or more standing hinges mayallow a first panel to rotate over a second panel and to lift the firstpanel and the second panel above a rail cap, a header panel, or both.The one or more standing hinges may connect a tail panel to a firstcentral panel. The one or more standing hinges may include one or moredisconnection locations between a cover and one or more parts of ahinge. The one or more standing hinges may prevent the cover from beingunder tension when the first panel is stored over a second panel. Theone or more standing hinges may elevate the hinge, the cover, or bothabove a surface of the rail cap, the support rail, or both when a firstpanel is rotated over a second panel. The one or more standing hingesmay elevate an end of a panel about 1 mm or more, about 3 mm or more,about 5 mm or more, about 7 mm or more, about 1 cm or more, about 2 cmor more, or about 3 cm or more above a rail cap, a support rail, orboth. The one or more standing hinges may elevate an end of a panelabout 10 cm or less, about 7 cm or less, or about 5 cm or less above arail cap, a support rail, or both. The one or more standing hinges mayinclude one or more standing caps, one or more balls, one or moresockets, one or more rotary stands, one or more stand supports, one ormore extension arms, one or more standing legs, one or more frames. or acombination thereof. Each hinge and preferably each standing hinge mayinclude one or more rotary stands.

The one or more rotary stands may function to lift a panel above a railcap, a support rail, or both. The rotary stands may prevent contactbetween a portion of a cover and the rail cap, support rail, or both.The one or more rotary stands may extend parallel to a rail cap, supportrail, or both in a closed position. The one or more rotary stands mayextend perpendicular to a rail cap, support rail, or both in a storedposition. The rotary stand may both lift one or more panels and mayextend all or a portion of a hinge and preferably a standing hinge to anend of a panel. The rotary stands may connect to a spacer bar or anotherportion of a hinge and extend outward. The rotary stand may connect to aframe of the hinge. Preferably, the rotary stand is connected to a partof the stand that moves when a first panel is moved relative to a secondpanel. A rotary stand may be located on one or both ends of eachstanding hinges. The rotary stand may include one or more standing caps,one or more balls, one or more sockets, one or more stand supports, oneor more extension arms, one or more standing legs, or a combinationthereof.

The one or more standing caps may function or connect a rotary stand toa hinge, a spacer bar, or both. The one or more standing caps may extendinto a spacer bar to create a connection between the rotary stand andthe hinge. The one or more standing caps may project outward from therotary stand. The one or more standing caps may receive a portion of ahinge, a spacer bar, or both. The one or more standing caps may cover anend of a standing hinge. The one or more standing caps may fixedlyconnect a rotary stand to a hinge, a spacer bar, or both so that therotary stand moves with a portion of the hinge that the rotary stand isconnected. The one or more standing caps may enclose an end of thestanding hinge. The one or more standing caps may have a complementaryshape to a part of a hinge so that the standing cap connects a rotarystand to the hinge. The one or more standing caps may be locatedproximate to one or more balls, one or more sockets, or both. The one ormore standing caps may have a shape that is configured to accommodate aball, a socket, or both. The one or more standing caps may receive allor a portion of a ball, form all or portion of a socket, or both.

The one or more balls may function to create a movable connectionbetween one or more pieces of a standing hinge. The one or more ballsmay extend from a frame into a spacer bar so that the spacer bar maymover relative to a panel, a frame, or both. The one or more balls mayfunction to movably connect two parts of a standing hinge together. Theballs may be part of a frame, part of a spacer bar, part of an expansionlink, or a combination thereof. The balls may have a cross-sectionalshape that is generally circular. The one or more balls may have athree-dimensional shape that is generally cylindrical. The one or moreballs may be supported at an end of frame, end of a support, or both.The one or more balls may create an interference fit with a spacerrecess so that once the balls are placed within the spacer recess theballs are prevented from being removed. A cover extending between aframe or panel and a spacer bar may prevent the balls from being removedfrom a socket or spacer recess. A socket may be one type of spacerrecess that may form a movable connection with a bar.

The one or more sockets may receive all or a portion of a ball. The oneor more sockets may function to allow rotational movement of the ballwithin the socket; movement of a spacer bar relative to a frame orpanel; or both. The one or more sockets may be complementary to a ball.Each socket may receive and hold one ball. Each socket may be generally“C” shaped, generally “U” shaped. The one or more sockets may receive aball so that the ball and socket may be rotated relative to each other.Preferably, a socket may be part of a spacer bar and a ball may be partof a frame. A socket may be located on each side of a spacer bar so thatone panel is connected to each side of a spacer bar. The spacer bar maybe about 90 degrees relative to each panel the spacer bar is connectedwith when the standing hinge is located in a stored position. The ballsand sockets may permit movement of the rotary stand, the spacer bar, orboth relative to a stand support so that as the rotary stand andpreferably the standing leg is moved towards the stored position, thestanding leg contacts a stand support to move the one or more panels,the standing hinge, or both out of a plane of the tonneau cover.

The one or more stand supports function to create a base or plane for arotary hinge, a stand support, or both to move relative. The one or morestand supports may be part of a rail cap, a support rail, or both. Theone or more stand supports may be a static surface that the standsupports contact as a panel, the standing hinge, or both move from aclosed position to a stored position. The one or more stand supports maybe a wall of a rail cap, a support rail, or both. The one or more standsupports may extend toward a center of a bed. The one or more standsupports may be a channel, a rail, or both of the rail cap or supportrail. The stand supports may be reinforced. The stand supports maysupport a weight of about 10 Kg or more, about 15 Kg or more, or about20 Kg or more. The stand supports may support a weight of about 200 Kgor less or about 100 Kg or less. The stand supports may be integral partof the rail cap or support rail that is contacted by a standing leg.

The one or more standing legs may function to elevate one or more panelsabove a stand support, a rail cap, a support rail, or a combinationthereof. The one or more standing legs may lift one or more panels sothat a cover of the panels is prevented from contacting a side wall of avehicle, a side wall of a bed, a rail cap, a support rail, a standsupport, or a combination thereof. The one or more standing legs may belocated at one or both ends of a standing hinge. The one or morestanding legs may extend parallel to a stand support when the standinghinge is in a closed position. The one or more standing legs may extendperpendicular to a stand support when the standing hinge is in a storedposition. The one or more standing legs may be located between a firstpanel and a second panel. The one or more standing legs may be locatedbetween a tail panel and a first central panel. The one or more standinglegs may have a height that is equal to a height of the cover when thecover is folded as the standing hinge moves from a closed position to astored position. The one or more standing legs may extend from aterminal end to a standing cap. The standing legs may lift a panel to anangle relative to a stand support. The angle of the panel (e.g., a firstcentral panel) relative to a stand support may be about 1 degree ormore, about 3 degrees or more, about 5 degrees or more, or about 7degrees or more. The angle of the panel relative to a stand support maybe about 30 degrees or less, about 25 degrees or less, or about 15degrees or less. The standing leg may only contact the stand supportwhen the tail panel is rotated over the first central panel and no otherpanels are rotated. The standing leg may be free of contact with anyother panels when the standing leg is in the stored position. Thestanding leg may be located between an extension arm and a standing cap.

The one or more extension arms may function to extend a rotary stand, astanding hinge, or both to a terminal edge of one or more panels. Theextension arm may extend outward and over a rail cap, a support rail, orboth. The extension arm may be an expansion cap, a spacer cap, or bothand all of the teachings for those features are expressly incorporatedby reference herein for all reasons regarding the extension arm. The oneor more extension arms may be an expansion cap, a spacer cap, or boththat is connected to a standing leg. The extension arm may prevent fluidfrom entering a bed. The extension arm may extend from an opposite sideof the rotary stand as the standing cap. Each rotary stand may includeone extension arm. The extension arms may extend from both sides of astanding hinge. The extension arms may be partially or fully covered bya cover so that a hinge joint is sealed, fluid is prevented fromextending between the extension arms and an adjacent piece of thetonneau cover, or both. The extension arms may be located between a tailpanel and a first central panel. The one or more extension arms may belocated on an opposite end of a tonneau cover as a tonneau connector.

The one or more tonneau connectors may function to prevent longitudinalmovement, lateral movement, transverse movement, or a combinationthereof of a tonneau cover relative to a bed. The one or more tonneauconnectors may adaptably connect a tonneau cover at two or moredifferent locations, to two or more different beds, two or moredifferent vehicles, or a combination thereof. The one or more tonneauconnectors may include one or more parts that are part of a tonneaucover, one or more parts that extend from a tonneau cover, one or moreparts that connect to a bed or a vehicle, or a combination thereof. Eachtonneau cover may include one tonneau connector and the tonneauconnector may be in one or more parts. The tonneau connector may belocated partially or entirely within a header panel. The tonneauconnector may have one or more parts that extend from a header panel.The tonneau cover may include one or more tracks, one or more sliders,one or more connection arms, one or more connection recesses, one ormore track arms, one or more connectors, or a combination thereof.

The one or more tracks may function to receive one or more sliders andto permit lateral movement of the sliders within the track but torestrict longitudinal movement of the sliders. The one or more track maybe an opening within a header panel. The one or more tracks may be anopening that a slider may be movable within. A track may be a windowinto an open area in a header panel. A track may include one or moredetents so that when a slider is moved into a detent the slider isprevented from moving longitudinally or transversely. The track may besmooth. The track may extend at an angle. The track may have an uppertrack wall that is located longitudinally spaced apart from a lowertrack wall. The upper track wall and lower track wall may be separatedby an opening. One or more sliders may extend into the track and beprevented from longitudinally moving out of the track by an uppersurface and a lower surface.

The one or more sliders may function to connect a tonneau cover to a bedor a vehicle. The one or more sliders may have a portion that extendsinto a track or a header panel and a portion that extends outward of theheader panel or the track. The one or more sliders may laterally movewithin the track. The one or more sliders may laterally to align withone or more anchor points in or on a bed or vehicle. The one or moresliders may be movable to accommodate attachment to two or more bed ortwo or more vehicles. The one or more sliders may be locked in place bya tether, a longitudinal force, a detent, a clip, or a combinationthereof. Preferably, each tonneau cover includes at least two sliders.For example, a first slider may be located on a driver's side half of avehicle and a second slider may be located on a passenger's side half ofa vehicle. The one or more sliders may include one or more connectionarms.

The one or more connection arms may function to create an anchorlocation on a tonneau cover. The one or more connection arms function toreceive a tether that is also connected to a bed or a vehicle. The oneor more connection arms may extend out of the track. The one or moreconnection arms may receive a tether. The one or more connection armsmay extend out of the track so that a top of the connection arm islocated above an upper surface of a panel, is coplanar with an uppersurface of a panel, is located below a panel (e.g., a header panel). Theconnection arm may be straight. The connection arm may have one or morecurves. The connection arm may have one or more segments that areconnected together. The one or more connection arms may extend out andaway from a track and then upward. The connection arms may besufficiently strong to resist a dynamic force from a braking event,acceleration, or both where the tonneau cover is suddenly moved and theconnection arm, the slider, or both sustain a dynamic force (e.g., 10 Paor more, 20 Pa or more, 50 Pa or more, 200 Pa or less, or 100 Pa orless). The one or more connection arms may include one or moreconnection recesses.

The one or more connection recesses may function to receive one or moretethers. The one or more connection recesses may be sufficiently largeto receive a tether that extends from the connection arm to an anchor ofa bed or vehicle. The one or more connection recesses may be square,round, rectangular, oval, geometric, non-geometric, or a combinationthereof. The one or more connection recesses may extend substantially afull length of the connection arms. The connection arm may form a framearound the connection recess. The connection recess may receive an endof a tether and the connection arm and connection recess may be locatedabove a track arm.

The one or more track arms may function to create a movable connectionwith a panel. The one or more track arms may extend into a track, into apanel, or both. The one or more track arms may contact one or more trackwalls. The one or more track arms may contact an upper track wall, alower track wall, or both. The one or more track arms may mirror a shapeor be complementary in shape to an upper track wall, a lower track wall,or both. The one or more track arms may be larger than a track, largerthan an opening in a track, have a thickness that is greater than atrack opening, or a combination thereof. The one or more track arms mayslide along and inside of a track, a lower track wall, an upper trackwall, or a combination thereof. The one or more track arms may contactan inside of a track, a lower track wall, an upper track wall, or acombination thereof to prevent movement of the track arms along thetrack. For example, an inside of the track, the lower track wall, theupper track wall may have detents or stops that prevent lateral movementof the track arm when the track arm contacts the detents or stops. Thetrack arm may have a narrow neck region (e.g., a region between a trackconnector and a track recess. The track arm may have a body that extendsinto the track. A body of the track arm may be located behind the narrowneck region. The body of the track arm may stabilize the slider withinthe track. A track connector may extend outward from the body towardsthe lower track wall, the upper track wall, or both.

The track connector may function to connect the slider to a track,prevent a slider from moving when the slider is connected to tether oran anchor, or both. The track connector may contact a wall of the trackto prevent movement of the slider. The track connector preferablycontacts the lower track wall. The track connector may be complementaryin shape to the lower track wall. The track connector may contact a stopa detent or both. The track connector may prevent rotation of the sliderrelative to the track. The track connector may prevent the slider frombeing pulled vertically within the track. The track connector may have agenerally triangular cross-section. The track connector may extend fromthe body and outward relative to the connection arm. The track connectormay be located under the connection arm, the track recess, or both. Thetrack connector and the track recess may be located opposite each otherand may form a narrow neck region.

The narrow neck region may be a region of the slider that extend out ofthe track, between the upper track wall and the lower track wall, orboth. The narrow neck region may function to permit the connection armto extend out of a track while retaining the slider within the track.The narrow neck region may form one or more shoulders behind the narrowneck that contact the upper track wall, the lower track wall, or both sothat the slider is retained within the track. The narrow neck region maybe formed by the track connector and the track recess. A shoulder may beformed at or behind the track connector, the track recess, or both thatpermits removal of the slider form the track. The track connector, thetrack recess, or both may be an absence of material. Preferably, thetrack connector, the track recess, or both include a depression and ashoulder. The depression receives the upper track wall, the lower trackwall or both and the shoulder contacts an interior of the upper trackwall, the lower track wall, or both. The track connector and the trackrecess may be located on opposing sides of a connection arm.

The one or more track recesses may function to receive a portion of anupper track wall, restrict the slider from being removed from the track,or both. The track recess may have a complementary fit within the track,with the upper track wall, or both. The track recess may directly opposethe track connector. The connection arm may extend between the trackrecess and the track connector. The track recess may be an absence ofmaterial. The track recess may be located on an edge of the body, in thebody, between the body and the connection arm, or a combination thereof.The track recess may receive a portion of the tether, assist inconnecting the tether to the connection recess, or both.

The tether may function to connect a tonneau cover to a bed, a vehicle,an anchor, or a combination thereof. The tether may restrict movement ina longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, transverse to the bed,longitudinal to the bed, or a combination thereof. The tether may berigid. The tether may be plastically deformable. The tether may beelastically deformably. Preferably, the tether is pliable but free ofstretch. The tether may be made of or include a fibrous material, rope,hook and loop fasteners, nylon, metal, a zip tie, a cuttable material, anon-cuttable material, a material that may be tied, or a combinationthereof. The tether may extend through the connection recess within theconnection arm. The tether may extend towards the track wall but be freeof entry into the track wall.

The track wall may function retain the slider within the tonneau coverand assist in connecting the tonneau cover to the bed, a vehicle, ananchor, or a combination thereof. The track wall may permit the sliderto move laterally or in a transverse direction. The track wall mayprevent longitudinal movement of the slider. The track wall may preventthe slider from being removed from the tonneau cover, the track, theheader panel, or a combination thereof. The track wall may include anupper track wall and a lower track wall. The upper track wall and thelower track wall may be connected at ends. The upper track wall and thelower track wall may be free of any connection (e.g., directconnection). The upper track wall and the lower track wall may beseparated by one or more tracks. The upper track wall and the lowertrack wall may be directly connected to each other at a central locationof the header panel (e.g., in a middle). The upper track wall and thelower track wall may be indirectly connected. The upper track wall andthe lower track wall may each contact a portion of a slider. Only theupper track wall or only the lower track wall may contact the slider.The lower track wall may contact a track connector. The lower trackwall, upper track wall, or both may have one or more stops, two or morestops, four or more stops, or six or more stops that a slider contactsto restrict lateral movement of the slider once the slider is moved intoa locking position. The lower track wall, the upper track wall, or bothmay be free of any stops. The lower track wall, the upper track wall, orboth may be substantially smooth. The lower track wall, the upper trackwall, or both may approach each other and be located on opposite sidesof a narrow neck region, extend into a track recess, track connector, orboth. The upper track wall may prevent the slider from tipping orrotating within the track. The lower track wall may prevent longitudinalmovement of the slider relative to the track, the header panel, or both.The lower track wall may terminate at a lip.

The lip may function to restrict lateral movement of the slider. The lipmay lock the slider in place when a force is applied to the slider bythe tether. The lip and track connector may have complementary shapes.The lip may be generally triangular in shape. The lip may extend beyonda remainder of a header panel. The lip may be located closest to avehicle, a cab, an end of a bed, or a combination thereof. The lip mayreceive the track connector and prevent rotation of the track connectorand the slider when the tonneau cover and bed, vehicle, anchor, or acombination thereof are connected. The tonneau connector including thelip, track, slider, and tether, may lock a header panel to a bed and oneor more rotary locks may assist in connecting other panels (e.g.,central panels) to a bed.

The one or more rotary locks may function to connect central panels,tails panels, or both to a bed of a vehicle when the tonneau cover,panels, or both are in a closed position. Preferably, the one or morerotary locks connect the one or more central panels to a bed, a railcap, a support rail, or a combination thereof. The one or more rotarylocks may prevent a panel from being opened, vertically lifted, liftedfrom an edge, or a combination thereof when the rotary lock is engaged.The one or more rotary locks may engage a rail lock, a rail cap, asupport rail, or a combination thereof to create a locked position. Theone or more rotary locks may have a portion connected to a panel. Therotary locks may have a portion connected to a rail cap or a supportrail. The one or more rotary locks may be located on one side of one ormore panels (e.g., driver's side or passenger's side). The one or morerotary locks may be located on one or more sides of a panel. Only thecentral panels may include rotary locks. The header panel, the tailpanel, or both may be free of rotary locks. All of the central panelsmay include one or more rotary locks. Preferably each of the centralpanels may include two or more rotary locks. The rotary locks may engageas the panels move from a stored position to a closed position. Therotary locks may engage a rail lock once the panel reaches an angle ofabout 90 degrees or less, about 80 degrees or less, about 70 degrees orless, about 60 degrees or less, or about 50 degrees or less. The rotarylocks may engage a rail lock once the panel reaches an angle of about 5degrees or more, about 10 degrees or more, about 25 degrees or more, orabout 35 degrees or more (e.g., about a 45-degree angle ±5 degrees). Therotary locks may include one or more panel caps that when incommunication with one or more rail locks prevent movement of a panel.

The one or more panel caps may function to connect to an end or side ofa panel and prevent the panel from being opened when the tonneau coveris a closed position. The one or more panel caps may connect to an edgeor side of a panel. The one or more panel caps may span a width of apanel (e.g., from a driver's side of a bed to a passenger's side of abed). The one or more panel caps may be located in end regions of thepanels. For example, one panel cap may be located on a driver's side andone panel cap may be located on a passenger's side. Each panel may havetwo panel caps. The panel caps may be a trailing end of a panel (e.g.,an end of a panel facing a tailgate). The one or more panel caps mayextend into or around one or more panels. Preferably, the panel caps aregenerally “C” shaped and all or a portion. The one or more panel capsmay be part of a frame, part of a hinge, or both. The one or more panelcaps may be connected to a frame, a hinge, or both. The one or morepanel caps may extend around and receive a portion of a panel, a frame,or both. The one or more panel caps may have a panel extension thatextend from the panel cap.

The one or more panel extensions may assist in locking a panel,preventing a panel from being openings, or both when the panel is in aclosed position. The one or more panel extensions may extend cantileverfrom a panel cap. The one or more panel extensions may extend from abottom (e.g., interior side) of a panel. The one or more panelextensions may extend towards a rear of a bed. The one or more panelextensions may have a length of about 1 cm or more, about 3 cm or more,about 5 cm or more, about 7 cm or more, or about 10 cm or more. The oneor more panel extensions may have a length of about 20 cm or less, about15 cm or less, or about 12 cm or less. The one or more panel extensionsmay be reinforced. The one or more panel extensions may be made of orinclude metal, plastic, a polymer, nylon, a thermoplastic, or acombination thereof. The one or more panel extensions may extend from apanel towards a hinge, under a hinge, or both. The one or more panelextensions may extend into or under a rail lock to lock a panel inplace. The one or more panel extensions may rotate under the rail lockas a panel is closed. The one or more panel extensions may prevent apanel from being vertically lifted when then then panels are in a closedposition. The one or more panel extensions may be located inside of anouter edge of a panel. The one or more panel extension may begin to lockor unlock a panel when the panel is partially open (e.g., an angle ofabout 25 degrees or more, about 35 degrees or more, about 45 degrees ormore, or about 60 degrees or less). The one or more panel extensions mayextend from open, to partially opened, and then locked as the panelmoves from a stored position to closed position. When the panel ispartially opening the panel may continue to be locked. The panel may belocked as long as a portion of the panel extension extends under aportion of a rail lock.

The one or more rail locks may function to contact a panel extension andprevent a panel from being opened when the rail lock and the panelextension are connected. The one or more rail locks may extend above arail cap, above a support rail, or both so that a space is formedbetween the rail lock and the rail cap, the support rail, or both. Theone or more rail locks may extend in a direction opposite to the panelextensions. The one or more rail locks and the one or more panelextensions may extend towards each other. The one or more rail locks maybe spaced apart from the rail cap, the support rail or both and thepanel extension may extend into the space so that the panel extensionprevents lifting of a panel. The rail locks may have a width that issubstantially equal to the panel extension. The tonneau cover may havean equal number of rail locks as panel extensions. The rail locks mayextend in a single plane. Preferably, the rail locks begin at a railattachment, rail cap, support rail or a combination thereof and extendupward away from the rail cap, rail attachment, rail support, or acombination thereof and the plateau in a second plane. The first planeand the second plane may be parallel to each other. The first plane maypartially extend over the second plane. Preferably, the first plane andthe second plane do not overlap. For example, the first plane may stopwhere a portion of the rail lock extends vertically and horizontally andthen a second plane may begin and extend away from the first plane. Thefirst plane may be part of the rail attachment or may be the railattachment.

The one or more rail attachments may connect the rail lock to a railcap, a support rail, or both. The one or more rail attachments may be anintegral part of a rail cap, a support rail, or both. The railattachment and a rail cap may be one monolithic part. The railattachment and the support rail may be one monolithic part. The railattachment may clamp on to the rail cap, the support rail, or both toform a connection. The rail attachment may prevent movement of the raillock. The rail attachment may be mechanically connected to the rail cap,the support rail, or both. The rail attachment may be connected with afastener, welding, adhesive, crimping, or a combination thereof. Therail attachment may sufficiently strong so that the rail attachment doesnot slide along the rail cap, a support rail, or both. The railattachment may be sufficiently strong so that if a vertical force isapplied to a panel the rail attachment prevents the panel from beingvertically lifted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle 2. The tonneau cover 10 restsover the bed 4 of the vehicle 2. The tonneau cover 10 includes aplurality of panels 12 that are pivotably connected at hinges 80.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover 10. The tonneaucover 10 includes a plurality of panels 12 that are connected by aplurality of hinges 80. The panels 12 on each end of the tonneau cover10 are the tail panel 60 and the header panel 20 that are connected withcentral panels 40 located there between. The central panels 40 include afirst central panel 40A, a second central panel 40B, and a third centralpanel 40C. The header panel 20 includes connectors 6 that connect thetonneau cover 10 to a vehicle (not shown). The end of one hinge 80 hasthe expansion caps removed and the opposing end has expansion caps 106.As shown, the expansion caps 106 extend the hinges 80 so that a terminaledge 70 of the expansion caps 106 is coplanar or in line with a terminaledge 70 of a panel 12.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a tonneau cover 10 in a closedposition 124. The tonneau cover 10 includes a plurality of panels 12that are pivotably connected by a plurality of hinges 80. The panels 12on each end of the tonneau cover 10 are the tail panel 60 and the headerpanel 20 that are connected with central panels 40. The central panels40 include a first central panel 40A, a second central panel 40B, and athird panel 40C. The header panel 20 connects to the cab of a truck (notshown) at the connectors 6.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tonneau cover 10. The tonneau cover 10including panels 12 connected by hinges 80 with the tail panel 60including a tail extension 62.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along V-V of FIG. 3 showing the hinges80 connecting the panels 12.

FIG. 6A1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VIA. The header panel 20includes a connecter 6 that connects the header panel 20 to a vehicle(not shown). The header panel 20 and the panel 12 are pivotably movablyrelative to each other about a hinge 80.

FIG. 6A2 is a close-up view of a hinge 80. The header panel 20 includesa header link 82. The panel 12 includes a panel link 84. The header link82 and the panel link 84 have pivotable movement at a hinge 80. Theheader link 83 and the panel link 84 each include rotation stops 88 thatprevent rotation of the panel 12 relative to the header panel 20 so thatthe panel 12 and the header panel 20 lie within a plane. A hingeconnector 110 is located within the hinge 80 that assists in rotatingthe hinge 80 between a planar position and a stored position.

FIG. 6A3 is an exploded view a hinge 80. The header panel 20 includes aheader link 82 and a header recess 24. The cover 14 rests on the headerpanel 20. The connectors 6 and the header recess 24 connect at aterminal edge of the header panel 20. The header link 82 and the panellink 84 connect so that the header panel 20 and the frame 86 havepivotable movement. The header guide 28 and the header panel 20 connectat the header guide recess 26 by a fastener 8. The header guide 28includes a header guide connector 30 that has a plurality of ears 32.The header guide 28 connects with the header panel 20 at the headerguide connector 30. The header cap 22 connects over the sides of theheader panel 20 so that the header guide 28 is sandwiched between theheader panel 20 and the header cap 22.

FIG. 6B1 is a close-up view of FIG. 5 in box VIB. The panels 12 areconnected at a hinge 80 that is an extended hinge 90. The extended hinge90 includes hinge joints 92 and a spacer bar 94. The spacer bar 94 andeach of the panels 12 have pivotable movement at the hinge joints 92.The hinge joints 92 include expansion links 100.

FIG. 6B2 is a close-up view of a hinge 80. The hinge 80 includes hingejoints 92 and a header cap 22. The hinge 80 and the frames 86 havepivotable movement about the hinge joints 92.

FIG. 6B3 is an exploded view of a hinge 80. The spacer bar 94 includesspacer recesses 98, an expansion projection 102, a pocket 104, and anexpansion stop 108. The spacer caps 96 each include fasteners 8 thatconnect with the spacer recesses 98 of the spacer bar 94. The spacer bar94 and the expansion links 100 have pivotable and expandable movement atthe expansion projections 102, the pockets 104, and the expansion stop108. Each expansion link 100 includes a spacer recess 98, an expansionprojection 102, a pocket 104, and an expansion stop 108. Each expansioncap 106 includes a fastener 8. Each expansion link 100 connects with twoexpansion caps 106 at the fasteners 8 and the spacer recess 98. Theframes 86 include an expansion projection 102, a pocket 104, and anexpansion stop 108. Each of the frames has pivotable and expandablemovement at the expansion projection 102, the pocket 104, and theexpansion stop 108.

FIG. 6C1 is a close-up view of the hemispherical hinge 12 in a closedposition 124 shown in FIG. 5 in box VIC. The panels 12 includes covers14. The hinge 80 is a hemispherical hinge 120. The hemispherical hinge120 includes a plurality of hinge joints 92. The hinge joints 92 includeexpansion links 100 that are connected with bumpers 122. The panels 12have a pivotable connection on the hemispherical hinge 120.

FIG. 6C2 is a close-up view of a hinge 80 in a planar position. Thehinge 80 is a hemispherical hinge 120. The hemispherical hinge 120includes a plurality of hinge joints 92 that allow pivotable movementwith the frames 86. A frame 86 is connected to a cover 14.

FIG. 6C3 is an exploded view of a hinge 80. Each expansion link 100includes a spacer recess 98, an expansion projection 102, a pocket 104,and an expansion stop 108. Each expansion cap includes a fastener 8. Theexpansion links 100 and the expansion caps 106 connect at the spacerrecess 98 and the fastener 8. Each bumper 122 includes a fastener 8. Theexpansion links 100 and the bumpers 122 connect at the spacer recess 98and the fastener 8. The frames 86 include an expansion projection 102, apocket 104, and an expansion stop 108. The frames 86 and the expansionlinks 100 pivotably connected at the expansion projections 102 and thepockets 104. The expansion projections 102 include a projection stop 103that moves within the pocket until the projection stop 103 contacts theexpansion stop 108.

FIG. 6D1 is a close-up view of a partial hinge 80 from FIG. 5 in boxVID. The hinge 80 is a standing hinge 140 that pivotably connects to thepanels 12 so that the panels 12 are spaced apart and rotatable relativeto each other. The standing hinge 140 maintains the panels 12 a distanceapart once the panels 12 are moved from a planar position (as shown)into a stored position (as is shown in FIGS. 10A-10B).

FIG. 6D2 is a close-up view of a hinge 80 that is a standing hinge 140with a rotary stand 150. The standing hinge 140 includes a spacer bar 94that is connected to the rotary stand 150 at the standing cap 142. Thespacer bar 94 connects the frames 86. The covers 14 of the panels 12rest on the frames 86.

FIG. 6D3 is a close-up view of a hinge 80 without a rotary stand (notshown). The hinge 80 is a standing hinge 140 that includes a spacer bar94. The spacer bar 94 includes spacer recesses 98 that connect with thefasteners 8 of the frames 86 to the spacer bar 94 via the spacerrecesses 98. As shown, the spacer recess 98 includes the fastener 8forming a hinge joint 92.

FIG. 6D4 is an exploded view of a hinge 80. The hinge 80 includes aspacer bar 94. The spacer bar includes spacer recesses 98 that form thesockets 148. The rotary stand 150 includes a standing cap 142. Theframes 86 include fasteners 8 that are balls 146, which extend into thesockets 148 to form a movable connection between the hinge 80 and theframes 86 so that the frames 68 are supported by and movable relative tothe hinge 80.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover 10 that is foldedtwo times. The tail panel 60 is folded over a first central panel 40A,and the first central panel 40A is folded over the second central panel40B so that the long edge of the rotary stand 150 is extendingperpendicularly away from the tonneau cover 10. The first central panel40A is folded over the second central panel 40B so that thehemispherical hinge 120 is curved and supports one end of the firstcentral panel 40A substantially parallel to and spaced apart from thesecond central panel 40B.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a tonneau cover 10 that is folded two times andis in a partially stored position. The tail panel 60 is folded over thefirst central panel 40A, and the first central panel 40A is folded overthe second central panel 40B so that the tail panel 60 is stacked on thesecond central panel 40B.

FIG. 9A is a close-up view of the hinge 80 in FIG. 8 in box IX in astored position. The hinge 80 is a hemispherical hinge 120 that isfolded and connects the panels 12. The hemispherical hinge 120 includesbumpers 122 and hinge joints 92 that are covered by expansion caps 106that cover the hinge joints 92. An end of the panel 12 includes a panelcap 202 and the panel cap 202 includes a panel extension 204 thatassists in creating a connection

FIG. 9B is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box IX with the expansion caps(not shown) removed. The hinge 80 is a hemispherical hinge 120 that isfolded and connects the panels 12. The hemispherical hinge 120 includesa plurality of hinge joints 92 and bumpers 122. The hinge joints 92include expansion links 100 that form the individual connections in thehemispherical hinge 120. As shown, the expansion links 100 in theexpanded state have expansion projections 102 that move until theexpansion projections 102 contact the expansion stops 108. The expansionstops 108 determine a maximum amount of rotation of the hemisphericalhinge 120.

FIG. 9C is a close-up view of a hinge 80, which is a hemispherical hinge120. The hemispherical hinge 120 includes a plurality of hinge joints92. The cover 14 connects to the hinge joints 92 at connection locations16 and has disconnection locations 18 between the hinge joints 92 wherethe cover 14 is movable when the hinge joints 92 are rotated from aplanar position to a stored position.

FIG. 10A is a close-up view of FIG. 8 in box X. The hinge 80 is astanding hinge 140. The standing hinge 140 pivotably connects the panels12. The rotary stand 150 extends from the standing hinge 140 to supportone panel 12 relative to another panel (now shown). The cover 14, whenin the stored position has connection locations 14 and disconnectionlocations 18 where the cover 14 is movable away from the hinge 80.

FIG. 10B is a close-up view of a hinge 80 of FIG. 8 in box X in a storedposition with the rotary stand (not shown) removed. The hinge 80 is astanding hinge 140. The standing hinge 140 includes a spacer bar 94 anda spacer recess 98. The frames 86 include fasteners 8 connected to thehinge 80 via spacer recesses 98. The standing hinge 140 and the frames86 have pivotable movement by the fasteners 8 rotating about the spacerrecess 98. The panels 12 and frames 86 are connected.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a tonneau cover 10 that is foldedthree times and is in a partially stored position. The tail panel 60 isfolded over the first central panel 40A at the standing hinge 140; thefirst central panel 40A is folded over the second central panel 40B atthe hemispherical hinge 120; and the second central panel 40B is foldedover the third central panel 40C at the extended hinge 90. The tonneaucover 10 is stacked such that the panels are stacked from top to bottomas the second central panel 40B, the tail panel 60, the first centralpanel 40A, and the third central panel 40C. The third central panel 40Cand the cab panel 20 are pivotably connected at the hinge 80.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a tonneau cover 10 that is folded three times.The tonneau cover 10 is stacked such that the panels are stacked fromtop to bottom as the second central panel 40B, the tail panel 60, thefirst central panel 40A, and the third central panel 40C. A standinghinge 140 is connected to and extends between the tail panel 60 and thefirst central panel 40A. The standing hinge 140 is supported bycontacting the third central panel 40C. A hemispherical hinge 120 isconnected to and extends between he first central panel 40A and thesecond central panel 40B. An extended hinge 90 is connected to andextends between the second central panel 40B and the third central panel40C and the extended hinge 90 supports the second central panel 40B sothat the first central panel 40A and the tail panel 60 are locatedbetween the second central panel 40B and the third central panel 40C.

FIG. 13A is a close-up view of the extended hinge 90 of FIG. 12 in boxXIII in a stored position. The hinge 80 is an extended hinge 90including a spacer bar 94. The spacer bar 94 includes a spacer cap 96.The extended hinge 90 includes hinge joints 92 on both sides of thespacer bar 94. The extended hinge 90 pivotably connects the panels 12.The standing hinge 140 includes a rotary stand 150 that contacts thestand support 152. The stand support 152 separates the panel 12 and therotary stand 150.

FIG. 13B is a close-up view of FIG. 12 in box XIII with the extensioncaps (not shown) and the spacer cap (not shown) removed. One of thehinges 80 is an extended hinge 90. The extended hinge 90 includes aspacer bar 94 and hinge joints 92 on both sides of the spacer bar 94.The hinge joints 92 include and are connected by extension links 100.The extended hinge 90 pivotably connects the panels 12.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a tonneau cover 10 that is folded four timesinto a completely stored position 126. The tail panel 60 is folded overthe first central panel 40A at the standing hinge 140; the first centralpanel 40A is folded over the second central panel 40B at thehemispherical hinge 120; and the second central panel 40B is folded overthe third central panel 40C at the extended hinge 90. The third centralpanel 40C is partially folded over the cab panel 20 such that thebumpers 122 support the tonneau cover 10 on the cab panel 20. Thetonneau cover 10 is stacked such that the panels are stacked from leftto right as the second central panel 40B, the tail panel 60, the firstcentral panel 40A, and the third central panel 40C. The third centralpanel 40C and the cab panel 20 are pivotably connected at the hinge 80.

FIG. 15A is a top perspective view of an expansion cap 106. Theexpansion cap 106 has a tab 160 that extends under the expansion links(not shown) to assist in forming a connection with a fastener or otherconnection device passes into the connection feature 162, shown as arecess, in a vertical wall 168. A cap 164 extends from on opposite side(e.g., both vertically and laterally (i.e., diagonally)) of the verticalwall 168 as the tab 160.

FIG. 15B is a bottom perspective view of an expansion cap 106. Theexpansion cap 106 has a vertical wall 168 having a height (H) and thevertical wall 168 includes a connection feature 162. A tab 160 extendsfrom a bottom of the vertical wall 168 in a first direction and a cap164 extends from the top of the vertical wall 168 in a second direction.A bottom surface of the cap 164 includes an extension taper 166. Theextension taper 166 extends upward so that the expansion cap 106 doesnot contact a side rail or a bed cap (not shown) that supports thetonneau cover (not shown) and so that the expansion cap 106 maintains asubstantially flush position with a side rail of the vehicle bed.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an expansion link 100 having an expansionprojection 102 having a length (LP) in a first direction and a pocket104 that extends in a second direction. The pocket 104 has a length (LR)that terminates on an inside location of an expansion stop 108 thatextends from the pocket 104. The expansion stop 108 prevents rotationalmovement of an adjacent expansion projection 102 (not shown) within thepocket 104. An upper surface 116 of the expansion link 100 is generallyplanar but includes a hinge step 112 that is free of contact with acover (not shown) and allows one expansion link 100 to rotate relativeto another expansion link (not shown). A pocket 114 is formed betweenthe upper surface 116 of the expansion link 100 and the pocket 104 sothat an expansion projection 102 of an adjacent expansion link 100 canextend into the pocket 114 and move within the pocket 114.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the tonneau connector 180 of FIG. 14 inbox XVII. The tonneau connector 180 includes a track 182 within a panel12 so that the slider 184 that is a connector 6 which is movablerelative to the panel 12. The panel 12 is a header panel 20. The slider184 includes a tether 194 that connects the slider 184 and the headerpanel 20 to a vehicle (not shown).

FIG. 18 is an exploded close-up view of the tonneau connector 180 withthe slider 184 removed from the track 182 within the panel 12. Theslider 184 includes a track arm 190 that extends into the track 182 anda track connector 192 that assists in preventing the track arm 190 frombeing removed from the track 182 by the track connector 192 contacting alip 199 on the lower track wall 198B. A track recess 196 is locatedbetween the track arm 190 and the connection arm 186 that restrictsmovement of the slider relative to the tonneau cover and prevents theslider 184 from being removed from the track 182. The track 182 isformed within a track wall 198. The track wall 198 has an upper trackwall 198A that extends into the track recess 196 and a lower track wall198B that extends towards a bottom surface of the track arm 184. Theslider 184 includes a connection arm 186 with a connection recess 188that receives a connector or a strap (not shown) that connects thetonneau cover to a vehicle or a bed of a vehicle.

FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of a standing hinge 140 lifting apanel above a stand support 152. The standing hinge 140 includes astanding cap 142 and includes a rotary stand 150 that elevates thepanels. The stand support 152 is part of the rail cap 9 but may be asupport rail 34 that provides support for the rotary stand 150 so thatthe panels are elevated.

FIG. 20 is a front view of a rotary stand 150 with the standing cap 142lifting the panels above the stand support 152. The stand support 152 asshown is part of the support rail 34.

FIG. 21 illustrates a side view of the rotary stand 150 lifting the twopanels 12 above the support rail 34. The rotary stand 150 elevates thepanels 12 a distance so that an angle (α) is formed between a plane (P1)of the top surface of the support rails 24 and a plane (P2) of a topsurface of a panel 12.

FIG. 22 illustrates a rotary lock 200 being moved towards a lockedposition. The rotary lock 200 includes a panel cap 202 with a panelextension 204 that extends therefrom. The panel extension 204 extendsunder and catches the rail lock 230 so that when the panels are closedthe panels cannot be lifted open. The rail lock 230 is connected to anextends from a rail cop 9 or a support rail 34. As shown, a bottom ofthe panels have a plane (P3) and a top of the rail cap 9 or support rail34 have a plane (P1) with the planes being separated by an angle (β) sothat the rail lock 230 and the panel extension 204 form a connection.

FIG. 23 is a close-up view of the connection between the panel extension204 of the rotary lock 200 and the rail lock 230 shown in box XXIII ofFIG. 22. The rotary lock 200 is partially open 210 so that the panelextension 204 of the panel cap 202 extends under the rail lock 230 thatis connected to the rail cap 9 or the support rail 34 by a railattachment 232.

FIG. 24 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the rotary locks 200 ina locked position 212 so that the panels are prevented from beingopened. The rotary locks 200 have panel caps 202 with panel extensions204 that extend under the rail locks 230 to form the locked position 212when the panels are coplanar.

FIG. 25 is a bottom perspective view of a hinge 80 with a plurality ofexpansion caps 106 extending from an end of the panels 80 over a seal36. The expansion caps 106 extend the hinges 80 so that an end of thehinges 80 and an end of the panels 12 end at a same location. The seal36 is supported above a rail cap 9 or a support rail 34.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the hinge 80 with the expansion caps 106extending over the seal 36 to prevent fluid from extending into a bed(not shown). The seal 36 creates a channel 38 within the rail cap 9and/or the support rail 34 that prevents fluid from entering the bed.The seal 36 may be generally “D” shaped and may include one or more sealfingers 37 that also assist in creating a seal.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of expansion links 100 with a spacer bar 94located there between. The expansion links 100 include the expansioncaps 106 that extend the expansion links 100 and spacer bar 94 so thattheir ends and the end of the panel 12 are coplanar and form asubstantially straight line.

FIG. 28 illustrates a bottom view of the rotary stand 150. The rotarystand 150 includes a standing cap 142 that extends on a first side andan extension arm 154 that extends on a second side of the standing leg156. The extension arm 154 extends a distance (D) to extend an edge orthe rotary stand 150 to an edge of the panels (not shown). The standingleg 156 has a height (H) that determines an amount of lift provided tothe panels (not shown).

FIG. 29 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the rotary stand 150with the standing cap 142 extending from a first side of the standingleg 156 and the extension arm 154 extending from a second side of thestanding leg 156. The extension arm 154 assists in extending the hinge(not shown) to an end of the panels (not shown).

FIG. 30 is a top perspective view illustrating the rotary stand 150having a standing leg 156 with an extension arm 154 extending in a firstdirection to form a seal and a standing cap 142 extending in a seconddirection to form a connection with a hinge (not shown).

FIG. 31 is a bottom perspective view of the rotary stand 150illustrating the extension arm 154 extending in a first direction fromthe standing leg 156 and the standing cap 142 extending in a seconddiction from the standing leg.

The present teachings may include a tonneau cover with each of theplurality of expansion links move so that one or more of the pluralityof panels rotates about 20 degrees or more and about and about 60degrees or less; each of the plurality of expansion links move so thatone or more of the plurality of panels rotate about 25 degrees or moreand about 35 degrees or less; some the expansion projections are movablewithin one or more pockets so that when the one or more expansionprojections move within a pocket of the adjacent one of the plurality ofexpansion links the hinge rotates one of more of the plurality ofpanels; the one or more expansion stops are located at an end of each ofthe one or more pockets; a length of the one or more pockets, a lengthof the one or more expansion projections, or both are varied todetermine the angle the one or more hinges rotate; some or all of theplurality of expansion links include one or more spacer recesses; someor all of the expansion links include an upper surface and the uppersurface includes one or more hinge steps; the one or more hinge stepsreceive a portion of the upper surface of the adjacent one of theplurality of expansion links so that an upper surface of the hinge isplanar when the hinge is in a closed position; each of the plurality ofpanels include or are connected to one or more frames and some or all ofthe one or more frames include one of the one or more expansionprojections or one of the one or more pockets that connect the frame tothe plurality of expansion links forming one of the one or more hingesthat rotates two of the plurality of panels relative to each other; oneor more of the one or more hinges includes one or more spacer bars; oneor more of the plurality of hinges is free of one or more spacer bars;the one or more hinges includes three or more expansion links and six orless expansion links; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings provide a tonneau cover including: one or morecovers are a single cover that extends over all of the plurality ofpanels and all of the one or more hinges; the one or more covers is acover that extends over all or a portion of one or more of the pluralityof panels and all or a portion of one or more of the one or more hinges;the one or more covers are two covers and the two covers each extendover all or a portion of a panel of the plurality of panels and all or aportion of one of the one or more hinges and abut an adjacent one of thetwo covers or overlap an adjacent one of the two covers; one or more ofthe one or more hinges are an extended hinge or a hemispherical hingeand the one or more hinges include: two or more expansion links eachincluding: (i) an expansion projection; (ii) a pocket that receives theexpansion projection from an adjacent link; and an expansion stoplocated at an end of the pocket, the expansion stop restricting movementof the expansion projection within the pocket; the cover is connected tothe plurality of panels, the one or more hinges, or both at a pluralityof connection locations and the cover includes disconnection locationswhere the cover is free of a connection with the plurality of panels,the one or more hinges, or both; the disconnection locations are aregion where the cover is free of attachment with a portion of the oneor more hinges so that one or more expansion links, one or more rotarystands, or both can rotate from a closed position to a stored position;the one of more covers at the disconnection locations is configured tofold, flex, bunch, group, or a combination thereof when any of theplurality of panels or one or more hinges including the disconnectionlocations are moved from a closed position towards a stored position;the one or more covers at the disconnection locations is configured tomove into a single plane when any of the plurality of panels or the oneor more hinges including the disconnection locations are moved from astored position into a closed position; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings provide a tonneau cover including: the one or moreexpansion caps include one or more tabs that assist in connecting eachof the one or more expansion caps to one or more expansion links; eachof the one or more expansion caps include an extension taper thatextends between the one or more tabs and a cap of the tab; the capextends over and contacts a seal to prevent fluid, debris, or both fromentering the bed of the vehicle; the extension taper decreases in heightas extension taper extends away from the hinge towards a terminal edgeof the expansion cap; each of the expansion caps include an end thatcontacts one of the one or more hinges and a terminal end that islocated proximate to or in contact with the location inward of the oneor more vertical walls, the rail cap, or both; the terminal edge of theone or more expansion caps and a terminal edge of each of the pluralityof panels are coplanar, terminate in a straight line, or both; each ofthe one or more expansion caps include a connection feature thatconnects each of the one or more expansion caps to one of the one ormore hinges; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings provide a tonneau cover including: the first panelis a tail panel or a panel farthest from a passenger compartment of avehicle; the first panel is located between a tail panel and the secondpanel; the tonneau cover includes one or more rail caps or one or morerail supports that are configured to extend along a first side of a bedof a vehicle, a second side of a bed or a vehicle, or both; wherein theone or more rotary stands include one or more standing legs that contactone of the one or more rail caps or one of the one or more rail supportsand as the first panel is rotated about the second panel via the one ormore hinges, the one or more standing legs are rotated to lift the firstpanel and the second panel the distance above the plane; the one or morerotary stands include one or more standing legs that extend in adirection parallel the plurality of panels when the tonneau cover is inthe closed position and perpendicular to the plurality of panels when aportion of the tonneau cover including the standing leg is moved to astored position; one or more rotary stands include one or more standingcaps that connect the one or more rotary stands to one or more of theone or more hinges; the one or more rotary stands include one or moreextension arms that extend a portion of the standing hinge or the rotarystand so that a terminal edge of the one or more extension arms arecoplanar with or in line with a terminal edge of the plurality ofpanels; the one or more rotary stands are located only on a first sideof the tonneau cover; one or of the one or more rotary stands arelocated on a first side of the one or more hinges and a second of theone or more rotary stands are located on a second side of the one ormore hinges; only one of the one or more hinges include a rotary stand;the tonneau cover includes one or more rotary stands and six or lessrotary stands; one or more rotary stands include one or more standinglegs and the one or more standing legs are located between one or moreextension arms and one or more standing caps; a cover extends over andcovers one or more of the plurality of panels and at least the standinghinge of the one or more hinges and the standing hinge when in a storedposition prevents the cover from being in tension, allows the cover tosag, allows the cover to separate from the plurality of panels, the oneor more hinges, or both at disconnection locations; or a combinationthereof.

The present teachings provide a tonneau cover including: one or moretracks extend from a first end region to a second end region of theheader panel; the one or more tracks are located within a first endregion and a second end region of the header panel and the track in thefirst end region is separate from the track in the second end region;one or more sliders include a track arm that is located within the oneor more tracks and a connection arm that extends external to the one ormore tracks; one or more connection arms includes one or more connectionrecesses that are adapted to receive the tether; one or more connectionarms include a track connection that contacts a surface within the oneor more tracks to prevent from the one or more sliders from being movedout of the one or more tracks, from sliding in a transverse direction toa length of the tonneau cover, or both; track connection is triangularin shape and is adapted to catch a lip on the surface of the one or moretracks to restrict movement of the one or more sliders; the track arm ishollow; track arm includes one or more track recesses that arecomplementary in shape to an upper wall, a lower wall, or both of theone or more tracks; one or more track recesses are located on a topsurface of the one or more sliders; one or more track recesses arelocated between a connection arm and a track arm; or a combinationthereof.

The present teachings provide a tonneau cover including: each of the oneor more panel caps include a panel extension that is cantilevered fromthe one or more panel caps; one or more rail locks are connected to avehicle, a rail cap, a support rail, or a combination thereof; each thepanel extensions extend into contact with one of the one or more raillocks to create the lock; the panel extensions extend under the one ormore rail locks so that a vertical movement of the tonneau cover isrestricted and/or prevented; the one or more panel caps rotate with oneof the plurality of hinges so that when the tonneau cover is in a closedposition the one or more panel caps are located under the tonneau coverand when a portion of the tonneau cover including the one or more panelcaps are in a stored position, the one or more panel caps are locatedabove a panel that the one or more panel caps are connected; the one ormore rotary locks are connected to or an integral part of a supportrail, a rail cap, or both; a rotary lock is located on a first side anda second side of at least one of the plurality of panels; the rotarylock is located only on a first side or only a second side of at leastone of the plurality of panels; the tonneau cover includes two or morerotary locks and six or less rotary locks; or a combination thereof.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable such as, for example,temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90,preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intendedthat values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. areexpressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are lessthan one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 asappropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intendedand all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowestvalue and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to beexpressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and allnumbers between the endpoints. Unless otherwise stated, a teaching withthe term “about” or “approximately” in combination with a numericalamount encompasses a teaching of the recited amount, as well asapproximations of that recited amount. By way of example, a teaching of“about 100” encompasses a teaching of within a range of 100+/−15.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combinationshall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified,and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may”herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” beincluded are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as manyapplications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of theteachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but should instead be determined with reference tothe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles andreferences, including patent applications and publications, areincorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

2 Vehicle

4 Bed

6 Connector

8 Fastener

9 Rail Cap

10 Tonneau Cover

12 Panels

14 Cover

16 Connection Locations

18 Disconnection Locations

20 Header Panel

22 Header Cap

24 Header Recess

26 Header Guide Recess

28 Header Guide

30 Header Guide Connector

32 Ears

34 Support Rail

36 Seal

37 Seal Finger

38 Channel

40 Central Panels

40A First Central Panel

40B Second Central Panel

40C Third Central Panel

60 Tail Panel

62 Tail Extension

70 Terminal Edge

80 Hinge

82 Header Link

84 Panel Link

86 Frame

88 Rotation Stop

90 Extended Hinge

92 Hinge Joints

94 Spacer Bar

96 Spacer Cap

98 Spacer Recess

100 Expansion Links

102 Expansion Projection

103 Projection Stop

104 Pocket

106 Expansion Cap

108 Expansion Stop

110 Hinge Connector

112 Hinge Step

116 Upper Surface

120 Hemispherical Hinge

122 Bumpers

124 Closed Position

126 Stored Position

140 Standing Hinge

142 Standing Cap

146 Ball

148 Socket

150 Rotary Stand

152 Stand Support

154 Extension Arm

156 Standing Leg

160 Tab

162 Connection Feature

164 Cap

166 Extension Taper

168 Vertical Wall.

180 Tonneau Connector

182 Track

184 Slider

186 Connection Arm

188 Connection Recess

190 Track Arm

192 Track Connector

194 Tether

196 Track Recess

198 Track Wall

198A Upper Track Wall

198B Lower Track Wall

199 Lip

200 Rotary Lock

202 Panel Cap

204 Panel Extension

210 Partially Open

212 Locked

230 Rail Lock

232 Rail Attachment

1: A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges located between and connecting each panel of the plurality of panels; and (c) one or more covers extending over all or a portion of one or more of the plurality of panels and some or all the one or more hinges connecting the plurality of panels so that when the one or more of the plurality of panels rotate about the one or more hinges, the one or more covers form a portion of the some or all of the one or more hinges and maintain the integrity of the some or all of the one or more hinges that include the one or more covers. 2: The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein the one or more covers are a single cover that extends over all of the plurality of panels and all of the one or more hinges. 3: The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein the one or more covers is a cover that extends over all or a portion of one or more of the plurality of panels and all or a portion of one or more of the one or more hinges. 4: The tonneau cover of claim 2, wherein the one or more covers are two covers and the two covers each extend over all or a portion of a panel of the plurality of panels and all or a portion of one of the one or more hinges and abut an adjacent one of the two covers or overlap an adjacent one of the two covers. 5: The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more hinges are an extended hinge or a hemispherical hinge and the one or more hinges include: two or more expansion links each including: i. an expansion projection; ii. a pocket that receives the expansion projection from an adjacent link; and iii. an expansion stop located at an end of the pocket, the expansion stop restricting movement of the expansion projection within the pocket. 6: The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is connected to the plurality of panels, the one or more hinges, or both at a plurality of connection locations and the cover includes disconnection locations where the cover is free of a connection with the plurality of panels, the one or more hinges, or both. 7: The tonneau cover of claim 6, wherein the disconnection locations are a region where the cover is free of attachment with a portion of the one or more hinges so that one or more expansion links, one or more rotary stands, or both can rotate from a closed position to a stored position. 8: The tonneau cover of claim 6, wherein the one of more covers at the disconnection locations is configured to fold, flex, bunch, group, or a combination thereof when any of the plurality of panels or one or more hinges including the disconnection locations are moved from a closed position towards a stored position. 9: The tonneau cover of claim 8, wherein the one or more covers at the disconnection locations are configured to move into a single plane when any of the plurality of panels or the one or more hinges including the disconnection locations are moved from a stored position into a closed position. 10: A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a first panel and a second panel; (b) a hinge located between and connecting the first panel and the second panel; and (c) a cover extending over the first panel, the second panel, and the hinge, wherein the cover forms a portion of the hinge and maintains the integrity of the hinge. 11: The tonneau cover of claim 10, wherein the cover forms the portion of the hinge when the first panel or the second panel rotates about the hinge. 12: The tonneau cover of claim 10, wherein the hinge is an extended hinge or a hemispherical hinge that includes two or more expansion links. 13: The tonneau cover of claim 10, wherein the cover is connected to the first panel and the second panel at a plurality of connection locations. 14: The tonneau cover of claim 13, wherein the cover is free of connection with the first panel, the second panel, and the hinge at a plurality of disconnection locations. 15: The tonneau cover of claim 13, wherein the cover includes a disconnection location disposed over the hinge so that the cover is free of connection with the hinge at the disconnection location. 16: The tonneau cover of claim 15, wherein the cover at the disconnection location folds, flexes, bunches, groups, or a combination thereof when the first panel or the second rotates about the hinge. 17: The tonneau cover of claim 15, wherein the cover in the disconnection location and the cover in the plurality of connection locations are coplanar in a closed position. 18: The tonneau cover of claim 17, wherein the first panel and the second panel are coplanar in the closed position. 19: The tonneau cover of claim 12, wherein the two or more expansion links each include an expansion projection and a pocket that receives the expansion projection from an adjacent link. 20: The tonneau cover of claim 19, wherein the two or more expansion links further include an expansion stop located at an end of the pocket, and the expansion stop restricts movement of the expansion projection within the pocket. 